NOCTILUCA May 2018

NEWS Appleton, Wisconsin May 2018 Volume XXIII

Issue V Page 2

Kairys , Teachers, from page 1

Clark , Improving, from page 1 couple years?

exits. Sugrue: Knowing whether to exit the building or stay in the room, and running through scenarios in my mind of ‘if this happened or if that happened’. I would feel more prepared if more tools from the district were given to allow blockades for doors, such as blockades, straps, etc. to help individual teachers secure their doors. VanFossen: I have had lots of conversations with other teachers who are in a room that has a location similar to mine and what evacuating and barri- cading looks like in my room. I asked officers lots of questions in the intruder drill. Bleck: I have switched up arrangements to make the best setup by putting the two largest pieces of furniture by doors. I followed all the policies with ALICE by locking doors and using covers for windows and doors. I have a lamp with a cord in a position nearby to secure the door shut, I give groups responsibilities for what may happen, each would qui- etly barricade each door, open window, take off screens, etc. I discuss what would make most sense, which exit to take. My priority is to get out of build- ing, point out possible weapons to students, but I would feel more prepared if there were drop ladders to put out second floor windows. Noctiluca: What are some tips you would give to others (adults or students) in a shoot- ing? Salm: Remain calm and to prepare by having more simu- lations with students would be best. Rudie: Have to act but also have to try to keep a clear head and do something, act and re- act to the situation and to know what you’re going to do, and have a plan. Sugrue: Stay as calm as pos- sible, and take action according to your training. VanFossen: When at all pos- sible, evacuate. Be prepared to change your plan, if you decide to barricade if you evacuate or vice versa, be willing to adjust to whatever plan you make, or however it my change. Bleck: To take the shooter trainings seriously, mentally think through situations and how you think you should respond. Then plan and go through training with all your classes and arrange your room so that you will be able to bar- ricade quickly and quietly, and love other people so people don’t feel the need to shoot others.

asked what can be done to improve school spirit at North. This group would take a lot of time and work to establish, but they would help keep positivity, not neg- ativity, going at sporting or other extracurricular events and they would make sure a good amount of people are attending every event such as fine arts concerts or fo- rensics tournaments or other extracurricular events. These individuals would help im- prove school spirit at North as a whole. Nonetheless, this may take a very long time to or- ganize. “I think this would take a long time to establish and would need a lot of sup- port. But, eventually, I’d like to see something like this become a culture at Apple- ton North,” said Werner. He hopes to have a group put together before the start of summer so the group can meet a few times during July and August. How would one help start the process of building a better school spirit culture at Appleton North? The answer, while a simple one, may be harder for some than others. “School spirit is something that adminis- tration has prioritized and continues work on with our booster club, student groups and the overall student body. This is something that stu- dents play a huge role in and it will only improve with a team effort,” said Pynen- berg. Whether it be a bas- ketball game or a band con- cert, coming and supporting your friends and your school at these events will take the necessary steps towards bet- tering school spirit. So take a few days out of your busy schedule and plan to come support your friend at what- ever event they are partici- pating in. It may just inspire you, and others, to show off your school spirit.

Salm: Yes, and a little more scared. Rudie: Yes. Sugrue: Yes, I feel more pre- pared, but less certain about how I would react because I won’t have as much time. I am more prepared now and know I won’t have as much time. VanFossen: Yes. Noctiluca: What do you think would be an alternative to arming teachers? Salm: Putting age restriction on guns in general, and better and more effective background checks. Rudie: Either enforcing cur- rent gun laws with background checks or eliminating assault rifles and bump stocks. Oth- erwise, having armed security guards. Sugrue: Develop a society that doesn’t resolve conflicts with firearms, but due to the reality that there are so many firearms in the society. Maybe arm trained security officers, while increasing the number of trained security officers. VanFossen: Making schools more secure, adequately pre- paring staff and students, mak- ing automatic firearms more difficult to get, and continuing to have conversations about what to do when. Bleck: Equipping teachers with proper training, safety equipment for getting out of the building, improve security entry points, and addressing mental health as a whole soci- ety. Noctiluca: Would you be comfortable handling a gun, especially in an actual shoot- ing? Sugrue: Not without hav- ing more training that involves practicing real life scenarios. VanFossen: Probably not, however I took gun safety when I was young and know how to handle a gun. Bleck: No, I won’t know how to react until it happens, I would be more protective over getting everyone out of the building, rather than try to fight off the shooter. Noctiluca: How are you pre- pared or preparing? Salm: I took the screen off windows for faster escape and rearranged tables to make it easier for a barricade. Rudie: Knowing what I would do if I was in my room with students, and knowing the Salm: No. Rudie: No.

being placed in random rooms throughout the school with an “active shooter” in the build- ing. The teachers had to fig- ure out the best plan possible, whether that was to evacuate or barricade based on several fac- tors. The Noctiluca interviewed some of the teachers that par- ticipated in the simulation. Those interviewed were Mr. Curtis Salm, Mr. Reed Rudie, Mr. Steve Sugrue, Mrs. Kelsi VanFossen, and Mr. Kevin Bleck. Here are their responses to the following questions: Noctiluca: What was the simulation scene like? Would you have reacted differently if you knew more of what to ex- pect? Salm: It was very realistic because there were real guns being shot, and I felt like I knew what I was doing until it happened. Rudie: I did good and they told me everything that was go- ing to happen. Sugrue: [It was] a lot differ- ent than the ordinary training or practice. It made me real- ize how I react in the ordinary practices since they aren’t as realistic as real life and I won’t have as much time as I thought to make a decision as to wheth- er to stay or leave. It was very eye opening, and made me completely rethink how to re- act. VanFossen: There were groups of teachers placed in rooms throughout the school. There was a shooter in the school with a gun with blanks and there was a lot of prepa- ration leading up to it. The teachers talked with principals and officers and separated into classrooms with decisions of barricading or evacuating, de- pending on the classroom. Salm: It was very helpful, it made me reevaluate the plan I had in case of any circum- stance. Rudie: Yes, very much, it was made as realistic as pos- sible. Sugrue: Very helpful. VanFossen: Extremely. Very intense and something you don’t want to do but it brought up very good conversations about the scenarios. Noctiluca: Do you feel more prepared after going through the simulation? Noctiluca: Was it helpful?

In 2016, the WIAA made changes to what should and shouldn’t be said at sport- ing events, particularly ban- ning chants that could be perceived as derogatory or negative. These changes made a lot of people very an- gry at the WIAA for making changes they found silly or unnecessary. However, those changes might be needed when it comes to changing the dynamic of school spirit at Appleton North, especially when it comes to sporting events. “I do think it’s unfor- tunate that for some students, the only way they seem to have fun at a game is when they can disparage the other team’s players. I would really like to see this change and for our student section to be able to have fun, and cheer on and support our team rather than just jeering the opponent. I really want our events to be a destination for our students and I want to make them fun, but it’s also important that we support our team and not just bash the other team. It especially is troublesome to me when I see our own stu- dents bashing each other on social media when it comes to them participating,” said Werner. “What can we do to bring people to not just sport- ing events and improve the positivity surrounding these events?” “I am looking to create a group of students to take on this very topic of improving our school spirit. I have re- searched other high schools and many have what they call “Front Row Clubs” in their school where students actually monitor and direct the spirit and behavior at events,” said Werner when

Mr. Werner huddling in with the Appleton North student section at a soccer game. Photo courtesy of Mr. Werner