George Washington High on lockdown after fights
By Alex Lloyd Gross
It is becoming a daily occurrence at George Washington High School in Northeast Philadelphia. The entire school is on lockdown due to the fact that students cannot control themselves and start fighting. Today, February 24, 2016 proved no different when a brawl send staff members scurrying in all directions to break up fights. According to Philadelphia Police, they were not involved , but they did have an increased presence for dismissal.
The school issued a statement that Delaware Valley News.com has gotten. It is printed below in it’s entirety:
Dear Teachers/Staff:
Please be advised that principals Thompson and Deal have decided to extend 4th period until 11:20 am. DO NOT DISMISS students until you are advised to do so. Announcements will be made and students will be dismissed by floors. Please follow these directives when announced! Teachers should be advised that they need to remain on their floor to supervise dismissal until all students are cleared from the building.
Also, all self-contained special education classes are to dismiss at 10:50 a.m. promptly. Self-contained special education students must be escorted by special ed staff to their buses. Special ed staff will remain with the self-contained special education students until all students are on their buses.
Thank you for your cooperation.
GWHS Administration
ALL AVAILABLE TEACHERS (4RD PERIOD PREP INCLUDING FLYNN, DEMPSEY, RUBIN, BEATRICE, ZOLONITSKY, AVAILABLE SCIENCE, BENZIO, BOWERS, WAUGH-SAUNDERS, GEISER, DICK, DITORO-0WERNER, EDWARDS, KING AND DEANS) PLEASE REPORT TO DR. WALLACE’S OFFICE IMMEDIATELY!! WE NEED ALL HANDS ON TO COVER ENTRY SPOTS AND HALLWAYS. WE WILL REMAIN ON LOCKDOWN UNTIL DISMISSAL.
THANK YOU.
Beverly P. Wallace, Ed.D.
Assistant Principal
School District of Philadelphia
George Washington High School
10175 Bustleton Avenue
What started the fights today is unclear. The proper punishment for a school fight is expulsion for the aggressor. It is unclear if that will be done. New school administrators took over less than one year ago.