August 24th 2015 Incident at Estrella High School

August 24, 2015

Dear Estrella High School families:

As you may be aware, early Monday morning we received an anonymous threatening phone call to our campus. While we believed the threat may have been a prank, we take any and all threats seriously and as such, we initiated our immediate response protocols which include contacting the proper authorities immediately.

 

Working in conjunction with the Avondale Police Department as well as the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department, all staff and students were evacuated from campus Monday morning while police investigated the legitimacy of the threat. Working with our community partner, Rio Salado College, together we ensured the safety and security of students and staff while the authorities worked to ensure the security and integrity of the school campus. Fortunately, the police have confirmed that campus is completely safe and the threat was a prank; they’re continuing investigations to trace the phone call to identify the individual who made this threat.

 

It is crucial to remind students of the consequences of making such threats. As you know, Estrella High School has a zero tolerance policy regarding violence, gang association, gang activity and illegal substances and weapons. Failure to comply with our policies will result in immediate notification of authorities and suspensions and/or expulsions from Estrella High School. For more information about our policies, visit www.estrellahs.com/policies.

 

The vision of Estrella High School is to create a safe place in the local community that provides students and their families with a series of stepping stones to a higher level of education while establishing their position as contributing and productive members of society.

 

While this is an unexpected disruption to our learning environment, the safety and security of our students and staff is at the forefront of all we do. We ask that our staff, students and our Estrella community contribute to our goal of maintaining a safe, secure environment conducive to learning at all times.

 

We would also like to recognize the Avondale Police Department and Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office for their commitment and assistance in ensuring the safety and well-being of the Estrella High School students and staff during this incident.

 

We thank all parents and guardians for their cooperation and understanding during this incident as we took the necessary steps to ensure student safety during the school day. We would also like to thank you for your adherence to our policies and your commitment to Estrella High School.

 

Classes will resume Tuesday, August 25 as scheduled and we will be taking additional measures to ensure student safety as we resume our regularly scheduled classes. Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the school at any time. Thank you.

JD Corey

School Leader

Estrella High School

510 N Central Ave Avondale, AZ 85323

(P) 623.932.6561 (F) 623.932.1263

 www.estrellahs.com