Diocesan Schools Adjust to Limited Schedules

By Irene Lagan and Mary McCarthy
HERALD Staff Writers
(From the issue of 10/24/02)

For the last three weeks, as a sniper has been terrorizing the D.C. metro area, many public school systems have gone into "Code-Blue." Under this code, once the students have arrived at the schools, all entrances except for the main entrance are locked, and all the children must remain inside. Most area schools have also cancelled all outdoor activities.

Dr. Timothy McNiff, diocesan superintendent of schools, is asking all diocesan schools to adhere to several of the same restrictions. There are no outdoor activities, either during school hours or afterward, including athletic games and practices. Field trips, with few exceptions, have also been cancelled. McNiff said that restrictions are assessed on a day-by-day basis and that he communicates via conference call with other school superintendents.

Although everyone’s patience has been tested, McNiff said that students and faculty alike are dealing with the restrictions creatively. "We have great faculty across the board, and this situation is proving it again," he said. "Principals have been pleased with how well everyone is doing."

At Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington, homecoming weekend has been moved from Oct. 19 to Nov. 2. In addition to the two full-time security personnel and the presence of an Arlington County Police youth officer throughout the day, additional police are on hand as the students arrive at school in the morning and leave in the afternoon. While school is in session, shades remain drawn. As students board buses in the afternoon, school vans are lined up in front of the bus port to block any view of the students. Students who do not take the bus must wait indoors until their rides are announced.

According to Principal Alward V. Burch, students are handling the situation well although they are upset. "We are hanging in this together," said Burch. "The students see that the situation is serious and that we (the faculty and staff) are cautious and serious, but not afraid. I have lived in this area all my life and have never seen anything like this."

Father Michael Taylor, O’Connell chaplain, leads students in prayer each day and will offer Mass for the intentions of victims and for a swift end to the situation.

At Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, seniors were previously allowed to eat their lunch in the resource center in the front of the school or on the front steps, but these areas, easily accessible to the road, are currently off-limits.

Brian Inmann, varsity football coach, said the football team is "disappointed, but they are handling the situation like mature young men. Like everyone else, they want to see the situation ended. But, they are coping well. The boys are practicing each day as if they will play, even though there is a good chance they won’t. I am proud of the way they’ve handled the situation."

The Delaney Conference Competition between local private Christian schools in soccer, tennis and cross country will be not be held at Seton School in Manassas next week as originally planned. Instead, the competition will take place at a location farther away from where some of the attacks have taken place.

At Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax, Principal Philip Robey, said that they have been trying to "carry on in as most a normal fashion as possible." Despite canceling the homecoming football game, the dance will still go on as planned. "All things considered, the kids have been very cooperative, they’ve been dealing with it very well," Robey said.

As with other area schools, the Fairfax police patrol the area around Paul VI and there are full-time security guards in the building during school hours. In addition to receiving safety tips over the public announcement system, Robey said faculty and staff are encouraging students to pray for the victims of the shootings and for the sniper. Students who drive to school are encouraged to enter and leave the school as quickly as possible.

At Angelus Academy, an independent Catholic grammar school in Springfield, students are now called out individually for their rides. Principal Jane Adkins said that indoor recesses have turned into organized games to help children release some of the pent-up energy. Many students, she said, offer their intentions for an end to the sniper shootings during daily Mass and prayers.

Kathy Swinehart, principal of Cathedral of St. Thomas More Elementary School in Arlington, said that parents and teachers are trying to be creative about recess. For instance, one parent who is a singer taught the children Irish folk songs one afternoon. Other parents have volunteered at recess. The Arlington police, she said, have been a very helpful and frequent presence around the school at arrival and dismissal.

"As difficult as this has been on everyone, the kids have been great," said Swinehart. "The children are concerned, some are anxious, but they understand and have not whined or complained. I am very impressed. At this point, we are just trying to keep everyone’s spirits up."

Outdoor recess has been replaced with movies and special treats at Aquinas School in Woodbridge. Although the children cannot go outside, and sports activities have been cancelled until further notice, Beth Williams, development director, says that the children are doing very well. "They feel safe here, they feel that everything is alright," she said.

One student’s father is a retired police officer and he is volunteering his time at the school. Williams says that his presence is a comfort to all.

Law enforcement officials have asked everyone to be more aware of their surroundings, and even children are responding, as faculty at Holy Cross Academy in Fredericksburg noted when students began questioning the presence of unfamiliar faces around the school. Fortunately, they were only landscapers hired to take care of the grounds, but the students are definitely more aware than they were in the past.

Stafford County has provided Holy Cross with a police officer during drop-off and pick-up times. Sister Eder said that the hardest thing for the children is that they have to remain indoors all day, and that most of their after-school activities have been canceled.

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