![Adding a tray of canned corn to the pile, junior Michael Collop assists in transporting donations for the Holiday Food Drive. The event, hosted schoolwide from Dec. 10-17, raised over 5,000 food items to deliver to the Parkway Food Pantry, helping several families in need. [The drive] is a great thing for us to do because you're giving to those who are less fortunate, and it helps provide for people who can't provide for themselves. [The] competition is always fun, too. It was fun to be in [social studies teacher Jess] Chazen’s class, because he always gets worked up over [the competition]. He made it exciting, and was always convincing us to turn in cans for the drive,” Collop said.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/feature-photo-unsung-2.png)
![NEW CHALLENGE, NEW TEAM MEMBERS: Every season, VEX creates a new game that robotics team members are faced with and have to build a robot to compete in. This year’s game forces students to create a robot that is able to stack rings onto mobile goals in order to score points. The change in games each season is something that robotics teacher Audrea Moyers appreciates.
“One of the things that I like about VEX is that they have a new problem to solve every year,” she said. ¨Even though the equipment’s the same, they have to analyze the game, and they have to come up with solutions that are unique that year. They are using their knowledge from prior years, but they have to kind of redesign a problem.”
As returning teams were faced a new game, some new teams and members had to adapt to a uncommon playing field and game.
“Three of our four teams were competing for the first time this year, and they had very different experiences match to match, so I think they learned a lot,¨ she said. ¨It’s hard just watching a video online to know how it’s actually going to be in person, so they all learned a lot about what gameplay is like, how to work with an alliance partner [and] how to adapt during the day to changes.”](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_9283-1-1200x800.jpg)
Up until Thursday afternoon, Duncan Middle School students had no idea that the lockdown drills they practiced may potentially save their lives.
Although Duncan Middle School students and teachers practice lockdown drills twice a year, an actual lockdown is rarely used. However, Thursday’s police pursuit necessitated the use of a lockdown, where all doors were locked and students had to remain in class.
Lockdown drills are used to train students in what to do if there is an exterior threat or potential harm outside the school. First, the office alerts teachers to the situation. Teachers are the make sure all doors are closed and locked. Unless called by the office, all students are to remain in their classrooms.
Then class would resume class as normal.
Emily Alley, a sixth-grade student at Duncan Middle School, was in English when the lockdown initiated.
This was Alley’s first time ever having a real lockdown.
“I think the drills that we practiced really did help us know what to do, and it was good knowing that we were prepared and doing the right thing,” she said. “I was in Mrs. Blalock’s class when it happened and I heard sirens, and I saw police dogs, cop cars, helicopters and I heard a SWAT team in the building.”
Alley was a little concerned at first.
“I was worried because I thought an active shooter was in the building, but we just did the stuff we learned and it kept us all safe,” she said.
Seventh-grade English teacher Whitney Gdanksi was among those keeping classes settled during the lockdown.
“We just locked our doors, closed the blinds and pretty much what we do in drills, and everything ended up being alright,” Gdanski said.
She also was informing the students what was happening outside the building so they wouldn’t be frightened.
“My students did exactly what they were supposed to, and they behaved well,” she said. “I’m very thankful for that. It also helped because I didn’t have to ask them to settle down. We just stayed calm.”
Assistant Principal Tim Hightower said the lockdown drills helped in preparation for the real thing.
“We prepare for real emergencies that propose a threat to the middle school,” Hightower said. “The overall goal of the drills is to keep the students and faculty safe.”
He said the drills will “differ based on the information we get from the law enforcement and Simmons Center and the severity of the treat.We have very good communication with the Simmons Center and law enforcement, as well as our staff.”
Hightower thought the students did well despite the unusual circumstances.
“They were well prepared for the situation, and the school as a whole performed well,” he said. “I was so proud of them, and I hope they will practice like this and do this well in the future.”
This story was originally published on Demon Direct on October 31, 2022.
