Parents furious at lack of information on Helensvale State School threat

Police are investigating a threat that forced a Gold Coast primary school into a four-hour lockdown yesterday. But there’s been a twist over the intended target of the threat.

ANGRY parents are demanding answers from a Gold Coast school as to why they were not fully informed about their child’s safety during a four-hour lockdown.

Helensvale State School was thrown into lockdown about 9.30am yesterday after someone left a threatening message on an administration answering machine.

It’s being investigated if the threat was actually intended for Helensvale State High School, which has been at the centre of a bullying saga, when video of two young girls telling another student to kill themselves came to light on social media last week.

WHAT HAPPENS IN A SCHOOL LOCKDOWN?

A parent voices her concerns. Photograph: Jason O'Brien

Late yesterday afternoon the High School cancelled a P&C meeting on the back of intense social media commentary and concerns over the threat.

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“It is concerning that some of the communications being shared within our community and on social media have been hostile and threatening in nature,” a letter sent by Executive Principal Karen Lindsay said.

“Unfortunately, this is not conducive to creating an environment in which to share a healthy and robust debate about the issues we all care about.

“I wanted to use this meeting as an opportunity to provide the school community with an update about the school’s response to the Queensland Government’s Anti-Bullying Taskforce Report recommendations.”

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

Ms Lindsay goes on to write that the Department of Education advised the school to cancel the meeting.

“The Department this morning provided me with advice that the P&C meeting should be rescheduled to a time when we can focus solely on talking about this important issue,” she said.

“I want to reassure you that the safety and welfare of your children, our students, continues to be the school’s highest priority at all times.

“On the subject of bullying, Helensvale State High School is united in taking a stand against bullying in all of its abhorrent forms.”

COAST SCHOOL IN LOCKDOWN AFTER SUSPICIOUS PERSON ENTERED

A large police presence at the school. Photograph: Jason O'Brien

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Meanwhile, in relation to the earlier primary school lockdown, police declined to release what the specific threat was, as it would directly affect the investigation.

It is understood they are trying to track a phone number and where the call was made.

As word spread on social media, concerned parents flocked to the primary school to see what was going on yesterday morning.

The school sent out a scant email two hours after the lockdown began. Several hours later parents received another email — again lacking information about what actually occurred — to let them know the lockdown was over.

A mother of one of the students at the school said she cried when she saw her son was OK.

“Not knowing what’s happened to your child is awful,” she said.

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An officer speaks to concerned parents outside Helensvale Primary School after it went into lockdown. Photograph: Jason O'Brien

“I cried when I saw him.

“It annoys me so much we don’t know was is going on.

Her son said he was really scared and freaked out.

A father who has three children at the school said he intended getting a group of parents together this morning to demand answers from the school principal.

“This has been going on all day and the messages were left last night (Monday),” he said.

“To not let parents know about it for an hour and a half to two hours after lockdown isn’t good enough.

“We’ve been told to stay away, but how can we stay away. What do they want us to do? We are powerless. Our kids aren’t allowed out and we’re not allowed in.

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

“Something needs to be changed.”

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A parent claimed the teacher of one of her children broke ranks and personally emailed her saying, “Please be advised the kids are perfectly safe and working hard in class. He is perfectly fine. I’m not concerned at all. It’s a normal day.”

Eduction Minister Grace Grace said the school sent out an SMS and an email to parents.

“In the event of a threat against a school, the first priority for school administrators is to ensure the safety and security of students and staff,” she said. “Following the advice of police, parents and carers are then notified immediately.

“The nature of social media means it is possible for some people to publish information about an incident before some parents have read the SMS message or email sent by the school.

“(The) lockdown demonstrates the importance of parents regularly checking that the contact details their school has for them are current.”

A spokeswoman for the Department of Education said a letter would also be sent home with students.