by Aymon L., 8th Grade
Photo Courtesy of Brian S., 8th Grade
At 9:35 AM on Friday, December 14 Adam Lanza shot his way into Sandy Hook Elementary School with a plan to execute what was to be the most lethal school shooting in U.S. history causing a total of 26 school casualties that did not include his own suicide. Although there were many brave souls in this dark hour there were also a huge number of casualties that never should have happened. This and other school shootings are the reason that the A.L.I.C.E drill is now being practiced by schools around the country. A.L.I.C.E stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate. These are all crucial steps, however they do not necessarily have to be done in order. They will still carry out what needs to get done for safety any way you do it.
During the first month of school we practiced A.L.I.C.E and this experience was new to me as I had missed it last year. The way the drill works in is that you get alerted over the intercom and then your classroom decides (depending on how far away the “invader” is if you want to risk it and evacuate or stay put and try to counter the attack through a “blockade-like” technique). The experience over all is very fun and exciting when you are doing however this is not something to joke about. School shootings can and will happen. 70 shootings have occurred since Newtown so don’t think it can’t happen again because it can. If we stay in practice though, we can get through this and we will stay safe.
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