Message from Principal Curtis Cleveringa

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Message from Principal Curtis Cleveringa

Update October 19: 2:45 p.m.
Below is a message sent to CHS families and staff

Good afternoon Capital High School families and staff,

 

First and foremost, a big thank you to all of you for your understanding regarding the social media post that we first informed you about early this morning. We understand that a threat of any nature can be unsettling, and we appreciate your ongoing support.  We also want to give a special expression of gratitude to the Olympia Police Department for its tremendous responsiveness and support on this matter.

 

As you may recall from this morning’s communication, there was no determination that the hand-written threat discovered last night as an image on Snapchat represented a credible threat or was even a reference to Capital High School in Olympia. In fact, today our local law enforcement learned of a second social media post that references a similar threat to a “Central High School.” As you can imagine, there is more than one Capital High School and more than one Central High School across the country, and law enforcement in several other states have also been investigating these Snapchat posts.

 

Since our communication with you early this morning, the following has occurred:


  • Olympia Police Department had an increased presence on our campus today. We thank them for their ongoing partnership as we work to ensure the safety of our students and staff.
  • Olympia Police has been working directly with the company that oversees the Snapchat app today as it investigates the source of the post.
  • We have reminded our students to avoid reposting social media posts such as this, which often complicates the investigation.

 

At this time, there is still no evidence to suggest that the social media post discovered last night or the second one police learned about today are specific threats or references to our school.

 

We will continue to operate school as normal on Monday, October 22. If over the weekend you have any new information regarding this matter, please contact the Olympia Police Department non-emergency line at (360) 704-2740.

 

Thank you,

 

Curtis Cleveringa

Principal




Below is message emailed to all Capital High School families and staff shortly after midnight on October 19

 

To Capital High School families and staff,

 

We apologize for the early morning hour of this email; however, we want to make you aware of a message noticed on social media on Thursday night, October 18, that has caused some concern locally and in at least one other western state.

 

The Olympia School District and the Olympia Police Department were made aware last night of a hand-written threat shared as an image on Snapchat. The note said specifically: “CHS School Shooting 10-19-18. Be Ready.”

 

Olympia Police are currently investigating this social media post, but there has been no determination that the post represents a credible threat or is a reference to Capital High School in Olympia. The same Snapchat message is also being investigated hundreds of miles away in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, but reports there indicate the posted threat may have come from another time zone altogether.

 

Our local police will continue to investigate the source of the post. As a precaution there will be additional law enforcement presence today, Friday, October 19 at Capital High School throughout the day.

 

School will start on time today. If you have any questions or information, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

 

Thank you,

 

Curtis Cleveringa

Principal