In response to a written threat discovered within the walls of a bathroom, Our Lady of the Assumption School in Lynnfield will remain closed today as police continue their investigation. The specifics of the threat, discovered yesterday morning, have been kept under wraps as Lynnfield Police, alongside canine units, conduct a thorough search of the premises, as reported by Boston 25 News.
The incident set off a chain of events, beginning with the school's immediate lockdown, an action to traditionally precede any detailed assessment of potential threats. Students were confined to their classrooms as officers arrived at around 9 a.m., according to MassLive. Following procedural dismissal, children were sent home early while the investigation pressed on.
Parents were informed of the unsettling event through a letter from Principal Cynthia Donovan. "This morning, we discovered a written threat in one of our restrooms. We immediately contacted Lynnfield Police and implemented a lockdown which meant all students needed to stay in their classrooms while the matter was investigated by the police,” Donovan assured parents in the statement obtained by MassLive. Adding a note of reassurance, she stated, "Your children are safe and being well cared for by our teachers and staff ... I know this is difficult to learn and that you naturally are concerned. But please know we are proceeding with the utmost concern for your child’s safety."
Our Lady of the Assumption, a Catholic institution serving preschool through eighth-grade students, plays host to more than 300 individuals shaping their early learning. As the Lynnfield Police work to fully understand and subsequently dismantle any real danger, the community holds an anxious vigil, trusting in procedures purported to protect the young minds that they steward. Any developments in this ongoing situation will be keenly observed and reported.
