Principal: Knives Brought To School With Intent of Selling Them

The principal at Walsh Middle School sent a letter to parents Tuesday, after two incidents at the school.

First, two students "brought knives into school grounds with the intent of selling them."

Second, an unrelated small group of students brought alcohol onto school grounds.

Walsh Middle School Principal Teresa Carney, in a letter to parents, wrote "recently, we dealt with two separate incidents that threatened our core values. I am writing to make you aware of these serious incidents, and to let you know how these incidents are being addressed."

"Thanks to the great majority of students who value our core values, these incidents were quickly brought to the attention of school administration," wrote the principal.

Carney said the school's officer Kathy McGrath was immediately contacted, and "moved quickly to deal with the incidents according to legal and school district protocols."

She said the "school administration, police, superintendent, and staff have been in close communication to deal with the students involved in these incidents; each will receive consequences in accordance with school and legal protocols."

Last week, a Wilson Elementary School student brought a paintball gun to school.

The Framingham Public Schools has a strict policy against weapons in the schools and on school grounds.

It is the policy of the Framingham Public Schools to prohibit the possession or use of firearms and other dangerous weapons (knives, firecrackers, brass knuckles, etc.) on school property at any time. Students in possession will have the weapon confiscated, parents/guardians will be notified, and appropriate disciplinary action, including prosecution, will be taken.

Parents, throughout the Framingham Public School District, should talk to their child(ren) about the district's policy on weapons. 

"In addition to dealing thoroughly with the students involved, we are focused on ensuring that the rest of our student body, who are making consistently positive choices, feel safe and supported at Walsh," wrote the middle school principal.

"Please be assured that we take safety matters regarding both students and staff very seriously. For this reason, we plan to meet with the students this week to convey our commitment to their safety and the importance of reporting incidents to school personnel. We are sharing this information to maintain clear lines of communication and dispel any rumors that the students may have heard," wrote Carney. 

"At Walsh Middle School we focus all of our efforts on the core values of respect, ownership, acceptance and responsibility. We strive to create a school environment in which every student feels known and valued," wrote Carney. "Walsh is a fantastic school and such incidents threaten our very foundation. We hope to strengthen our lines of communication with our students, to engage them once again in discussions about our core values, and to never lose focus on everything that makes Walsh the exceptional school it is."

Walsh is one of three middle schools in the Framingham Public School District. It serves 700 students in grades 6, 7 and 8.