Thank you everyone for the feedback on what a great job our staff did last week.  We know that during any emergency event it is a difficult time for everyone.  Below is a letter from Peter Stills, Senior Sergeant, Community Services Manager, New Zealand Police.

Open Letter to Oaklands School Community from Police

On  Thursday 1 December 2016 Oaklands School received a telephone call. The contents of the call threatened the safety of the pupils.

As a result the school activated their lockdown procedure. Police were notified and attended. Of concern to police was a number of parents or caregivers who arrived at Oaklands School during the lockdown. Had there been an armed incident those parents or caregivers would have created an extremely dangerous situation for themselves and their children.  This situation often causes children to become upset when they see their parents or caregivers, upsets other children and complicates the emergency incident for staff and the police.  Police ask that parents or caregivers do not go to the school during an emergency until notified by the school  and given the all clear.  Police remind the school community that the school have a number of urgent matters to deal with during a lockdown procedure and making contact with parents or caregivers is not one.

The safety of the students and staff is paramount.