Helensvale school lockdown: Parent creates Facebook page after being ‘kept in the dark’

A concerned father has decided to take matters into his own hands after parents and guardians were allegedly kept in the dark during a four hour primary school lock down.

The Parents Awareness HSS sign that has been put out the front of Helensvale State School.

A CONCERNED father has decided to take matters into his own hands after parents and guardians were kept in the dark during a four hour primary school lock down.

Helensvale State School was locked down at 9.30am yesterday after two threats left on the schools phone voicemail.

Students and teachers were kept under their desks until the lockdown was lifted about 1.30pm.

Parents and guardians received a text or email about two hours after the lockdown took place, which advised them not to attend the school.

The Parents Awareness HSS Facebook page.

GOLD COAST: HELENSVALE STATE SCHOOL IN LOCKDOWN AFTER ALLEGED THREAT

Dozens of parents waited out the front of the schools gates for hours, demanding answers from the school.

A father of three boys who attends the school created a Facebook page called ‘Parents Awareness HSS’ this morning.

His aim is for the page to become a communication forum for other parents and guardians to access happenings at the school.

“It’s for parents and guardians. It’s for us to have a voice,” he said.

Scenes outside Helensvale Primary School after it went into lockdown. Photograph : Jason O'Brien

PARENTS FURIOUS AT LACK OF INFORMATION ON HELENSVALE STATE SCHOOL THREAT

“We were completely shut off of all information yesterday. We didn’t know what was going on.

“I could have recorded the police conference so other parents could have known what was going on.

“It’s also the high school parents and guardians. They have the right to know as well.”

But the page, which has been created anonymously by the father under the name of ‘John Smith’, isn’t just for safety updates.

Scenes outside Helensvale Primary School after it went into lockdown. Photograph : Jason O'Brien

“I went to the school the other day and it was a mess. I would like to organise working bees to come in and clean up the school, improve the campus,” he said.

“I want all parents to join the group and get involved.”

Helensvale State School was locked down just over four months earlier, on November 8, from another threatening phone call.

Scenes outside Helensvale Primary School after it went into lockdown. Photograph : Jason O'Brien

Parents and guardians still do not have answers and are concerned they won’t receive them.

“It makes you think, the school was locked down for a bomb threat for forty minutes, but yesterday it was locked down for four hours,” the dad said.

“If they new at 9.30am in the morning this call was meant for the high school, why was the school not locked down? Why was the primary school kids under the desk with teachers?”

The father has placed a sign out the front of the school that encourages parents to join the page.