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Incident at Joppatowne High SchoolFULL ALERT
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Inclement Weather and School Closings

Incident at Joppatowne High School

UPDATE SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2024 AT 3:55 P.M. VIA PHONE CALL AND EMAIL TO ALL JOPPATOWNE HIGH SCHOOL CONTACTS

Today, I met with Joppatowne High School staff and HCPS leadership to talk about our students returning to school. We have decided to adjust our return to school schedule. 

On Thursday, September 12, 2024, students in grades 10 and 12 will return to school and dismiss three hours early. 

On Friday, September 13, 2024, all students will return to school and will dismiss three hours early. 

On Monday, September 16, 2024, all students will return to school for regular school hours. 

I will reach out tomorrow with additional information on what you and your student can expect when they return to school. Please watch your email for that information. 


UPDATE SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2024 AT 6:45 P.M. VIA EMAIL TO ALL HCPS CONTACTS

Please take a moment to watch the video message from Superintendent Bulson regarding the tragedy at Joppatowne High School and the days ahead.

UPDATE SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2024 AT 6:00 P.M. VIA PHONE AND EMAIL TO JOPPATOWNE HIGH, MAGNOLIA MIDDLE, MAGNOLIA ELEMENTARY, JOPPATOWNE ELEMENTARY AND RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Harford County Public Schools will have counseling staff and meal services available to students from the Joppatowne community this week. 

Counseling services are available on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, September 9-11, 2024, at: 

Windsor Valley Community Center (10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.) 
570 Meadowood Drive, Edgewood, MD, 21040 

Edgewood Boys and Girls Club (10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.) 
2002 Cedar Drive, Edgewood, MD, 21040 

Edgewood EPI Center (10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.) 
1918 Pulaski Highway, Edgewood, MD, 21040 

Additionally, students from Riverside Elementary School, Joppatowne Elementary School, Magnolia Elementary School, Magnolia Middle School, and Joppatowne High School can pick up a bagged lunch at these locations on Monday, September 9, 2024 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.:

Magnolia Middle School
Mariner Point Park
Windsor Valley
Edgewood Boys and Girls Club
Epicenter
Joppa Public Library

On Tuesday, September 10, 2024, students from Joppatowne High School can pick up two-day meal kits at Joppatowne High School and the Windsor Valley Community Center between 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. 

We will continue to post updates regarding Joppatowne High School in the Red Alert on hcps.org. 

UPDATE SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2024 AT 11:00 A.M.
Due to Joppatowne High School being CLOSED Monday, September 9, 2024 - Wednesday, September 11, 2024, the depot stop location at Joppatowne High School for magnet programs will be moved to the Joppa Library.

The times will remain the same as the depot times for Joppatowne High School.
Depot service for magnet students utilizing the Joppatowne High School depot stop will resume the morning of Thursday, September 12, 2024.

UPDATE SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2024 AT 7:06 P.M. VIA PHONE AND EMAIL TO MAGNOLIA MIDDLE, MAGNOLIA ELEMENTARY, JOPPATOWNE ELEMENTARY AND RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

The tragic events of Friday have taken an emotional toll on this community and there is a need for time and space to heal. Magnolia Middle, Magnolia Elementary, Joppatowne Elementary, and Riverside Elementary schools will be CLOSED Monday, September 9, 2024, to provide additional time for staff, siblings, neighbors and friends to process the tragedy that occurred Friday at Joppatowne High School. There will be no before or after care and no after school activities. Staff are to report to their school building on Monday. 

We will provide additional information tomorrow about meal distribution during the closure Monday as well as information about times and locations of counseling services, should your child need to speak with an HCPS school counselor, school psychologist, social worker, or other supporting central office staff member.

Students will be welcomed back to school on Tuesday, September 10, 2024.


UPDATE SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2024 AT 6:54 P.M. VIA PHONE AND EMAIL TO OUR JOPPATOWNE HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY

Joppatowne High School will be closed to students Monday, September 9, 2024, through Wednesday, September 11, 2024. There will be no after school or evening activities Monday through Wednesday.

On Monday, staff will have the option to return to school beginning at 12:00 p.m. The school will be closed to students.

On Tuesday, staff will report to the school at 8:00 a.m. The school will remain closed to students on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, staff will be on campus from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The school will remain closed to students on Wednesday.

It is our intention to have students return to school on Thursday, September 12, 2024.

We know this is going to be a difficult time for our community. We will provide information tomorrow about meal distribution while Joppatowne High School is closed as well as counseling services that will be available to students and staff off-site. Those services will be available from HCPS school counselors, school psychologists, social workers, and additional central office staff.

If your child needs to collect personal belongings before returning to school on Thursday, School Safety Liaisons will be available to escort them to their belongings beginning at 12:00 p.m. on Monday.

UPDATE SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2024 AT 1:10 P.M. VIA EMAIL TO OUR JOPPATOWNE HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY

The Harford County Sheriff's Office has released a statement with an investigation update and charging information.

While this information is publicly available on the HCSO Facebook page, we are sending it directly to our JOHS community to ensure you are aware.

The content of the message is included below for your convenience.

From the Harford County Sheriff's Office:

Arrest Made in Joppatowne High School Shooting
 
[September 7, 2024, Joppatowne, MD] At approximately 12:36 p.m., Deputies from the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Southern Precinct were dispatched to Joppatowne High School for an active assailant. A Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officer assigned to the school was in the school and immediately responded to identify and address the threat.
 
?Patrol deputies and law enforcement support from allied agencies began to arrive within two minutes, entered the school forming contact teams to search for the assailant. Students evacuated a 15-year-old Joppatowne High School student suffering from a gunshot wound from the interior of the school to the school entry where school nurses, staff, and students provided care and support.

?County medics took over medical care and transferred the student to Maryland State Police Medics who transported him by helicopter to John Hopkins Bayview Hospital. Unfortunately, the student, Warren Curtis Grant, 15, of Edgewood, succumbed to his injuries after arrival.
 
?Harford County Sheriff’s Office deputies supported by dozens of allied law enforcement officers, from the Maryland State Police, Baltimore County Police, Bel Air, Aberdeen, and Havre de Grace Police Departments, the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, the Maryland National Resources Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and the Homeland Security and Investigations secured the school and surrounding areas, conducted a methodical search for additional victims and those who sheltered in place, began evacuations with the help of staff and worked with Harford County Department of Emergency Services to initiate reunification protocols.
 
?Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division initiated an investigation. Detectives leveraged technology and a person who was believed to be the assailant was identified. This information was provided to law enforcement canvasing the neighborhoods around the school.
 
?A short time later, 12:50 p.m., citizens contacted the Emergency Operations Center reporting a suspicious subject attempting to break into a house. Deputies in the area, searching for the suspect, immediately responded and took the individual, Jaylen Rushawn Prince, 16, of Edgewood, into custody at 12:52 p.m. Prince is a student at Joppatowne High School. The arrest was made without incident.
 
?Reunification of students was completed at 3:28 p.m.
 
?Mr. Prince has been charged as an adult with Murder, first and second-degree assault, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony/crime of violence. He is currently being held in the Harford County Detention Center. He is awaiting his initial appearance before a judicial officer.
 
?The events leading up to the incident and the relationship between the victim and the suspect remains under investigation. However, information indicates Mr. Grant and Mr. Prince were known to each other prior to the shooting. As of this writing, it is not believed that there are any outstanding suspects or that there is an on-going threat to the community or Joppatowne High School.
 
While an arrest has been made, Sheriff’s detectives are continuing their investigation. No further information is being released at this time. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact Detective Ross, with the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at 443-409-3555.

UPDATE 4:51 P.M. SENT DIRECTLY TO OUR JOPPATOWNE HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY

It is with great sadness that we share that the victim of the shooting did not survive. At a media briefing that has just concluded, Sheriff Gahler identified the victim as Warren Grant, a 15 year old student at Joppatowne High School.

Again, we ask you to join us in keeping Warren’s family, friends, and the students and staff at JOHS in your thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time. We will have additional supports in place for students as we process this tragedy as a school community.
 

MESSAGE SENT VIA PHONE AND EMAIL TO ALL HCPS AT 3:20 P.M.:
PHONE:
this afternoon, a student sustained a gunshot wound at Joppatowne High School. At this time, Sheriff Gahler has shared the victim is in serious condition. I ask you to join us with your thoughts and prayers for the victim and their family. This was an isolated incident, and we want to thank our students, staff, law enforcement partners at the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, and our community partners like those at Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church and the Joppatowne Redner’s for their support through this incident. I have been posting updates and messages in the Red Alert on hcps.org. Details from the media briefing have been posted in the red alert on hcps.org. I ask that you follow the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page for updates on their investigation. In the email with this message, I have include some information that was shared in a media briefing this afternoon. 

EMAIL:

It is with great sadness that we share a student sustained a gunshot wound in an altercation at Joppatowne High School today. Sheriff Gahler has shared the following information:

  • A shooting did take place in Joppatowne High School today, Friday, September 6, 2024.
  • 1 suspect and 1 victim were involved in the incident.
  • The Principal and SRO were in the school. They did not hear the shot, but heard commotion and responded.
  • The shooting took place in a 1st floor men's bathroom. 
  • After the initial shooting, the suspect left the bathroom and the school.
  • Other individuals in the school brought the victim into the hallway where HCPS nurses immediately tended to the victim.
  • Sheriff Gahler shared that within 2 minutes HCSO was on scene and additional partners arrived with over 100 more responders.
  • The victim was airlifted to a trauma center.
  • The victim is a 15 year old male, in serious condition according to Sheriff Gahler's latest update.
  • The suspect in the case was apprehended within minutes near neighboring houses.
  • The suspect is a 16 year old male and today was his first day reporting to school this year.
  • Sheriff Gahler shared that while current legislation prevents the Harford County Sheriff's Office from questioning the suspect, the State's Attorney has confirmed the suspect will be charged in the shooting.
  • The investigation is ongoing, so details will be limited.
  • The weapon has not been recovered, and no details being shared about type of weapon at this time.

Please follow the Harford County Sheriff's Office Facebook page for investigation updates. We will continue to post updates in the Red Alert on hcps.org.


UPDATE 3:09 P.M.

Sheriff Gahler shared the following information in the press briefing:

  • A shooting did take place in the school.
  • 1 suspect and 1 victim were involved in the incident.
  • The Principal and SRO were in the school. They did not hear the shot, but heard commotion and responded.
  • The shooting took place in a 1st floor men's bathroom. 
  • After the initial shooting, the suspect left the bathroom and the school.
  • Other individuals in the school brought the victim into the hallway where HCPS nurses immediately tended to the victim.
  • Sheriff Gahler shared that within 2 minutes HCSO was on scene and additional partners arrived with over 100 more responders.
  • The victim was airlifted to a trauma center.
  • The victim is a 15 year old male, in serious condition according to Sheriff Gahler's latest update.
  • The suspect in the case was apprehended within minutes near neighboring houses.
  • The suspect is a 16 year old male and today was his first day reporting to school this year.
  • Sheriff Gahler shared that while current legislation prevents the Harford County Sheriff's Office from questioning the suspect, the State's Attorney has confirmed the suspect will be charged in the shooting.
  • The investigation is ongoing, so details will be limited.
  • The weapon has not been recovered, and no details being shared about type of weapon at this time.

A message will be sent shortly to our entire HCPS community to make sure all families are aware of the incident and where to continue to see updates.

Please follow the Harford County Sheriff's Office Facebook page for investigation updates. We will update the Red Alert on hcps.org.


UPDATE 2:15 P.M.
Sheriff Gahler and Dr. Bulson will participate in a media briefing on the incident at Joppatowne High School at approximately 2:45 p.m. I will send an update with any additional information the Harford County Sheriff's Office shares during the briefing as soon as possible following the briefing.

UPDATE 1:43 P.M.
This is an update for our Joppatowne High School community. The Harford County Sheriff's Office has confirmed this was an isolated incident. There is NOT an active shooter. Parents and guardians can pick their students up from Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church; buses will not conduct regular dismissal today. Please continue to check the Red Alert on hcps.org for updates as we get more details.

Please note: the following message has been sent via phone and email to all Joppatowne High School families at 1:17 p.m.

This is an important message for our Joppatowne High School community.

The Harford County Sheriff’s Office has responded to the school for an isolated incident on campus today. There was a fight on campus to known parties. A weapon was brought onto campus and used in the incident. The HCSO and HCPS are working together to get this information to you.

Please continue to follow the HCSO Facebook page for updates on their investigation. I will continue to send email updates directly to our JOHS community. Please know this is unfolding quickly and we will provide additional information as soon as possible.

JOPPATOWNE HIGH SCHOOL BASIC FACTS:
Joppatowne High School has a capacity for 1,056 students, and there are currently 985 enrolled.  Melissa Williams is principal of the school.  The school has 46 teachers and is home to the JROTC program, the Homeland Security program, and the P-TECH College and Career Readiness program.  The school has a School Resource Officer (SRO) fulltime on staff.

Posted 9/6/2024 1:19:46 PM
Updated 9/10/2024 3:55:14 PM

*All Alerts will be displayed on this page, and at the top of the home page of HCPS.org

Virtual Inclement Weather Days

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), has approved Harford County Public Schools’ proposed plan for virtual inclement weather days during the 2023-2024 school year.

HCPS presented the proposed plan at the December 18, 2023 and January 8, 2024 Board of Education meetings. The Board of Education of Harford County approved the proposal to use up to three (3) asynchronous days in the event of inclement weather during the 2023-2024 school year. This will allow asynchronous virtual instruction on our remaining inclement weather make-up days.

MSDE Virtual Day Instruction Plan Application Elements

  • There will be no more than three asynchronous virtual days.
  • Every HCPS student has been issued an iPad, Chromebook, or Windows device.
  • Attendance will be taken for all students. Initially, all students will be marked as 'present.' Teachers will update attendance information for any student that does not complete the virtual assignments in the 10-day window.
Assignments
  • Students will be provided 10 days from the day that is designated as a virtual instruction day to complete assignments.
  • Assignments will be posted through CANVAS.
  • Pre-kindergarten will have backpacks sent home with inclement weather day activities. Students in primary grades may also have physical learning tools sent home at the discretion of the principal.
  • If needed, virtual lessons may be aligned with goals and objectives in a student's IEP.
  • Virtual days will not negatively impact grades. There will be meaningful options for make-up work outside of virtual learning.
Communication
  • In the event of utilizing an asynchronous option on an inclement weather day:
    • Mass Notification system phone call, email, and text message.
    • Posted on hcps.org.
    • Shared on HCPS social media accounts.
    • Shared via push notification through HCPS app.
    • Information provided to media partners.
    • Inclement weather webpage created with logistics.
    • Learning opportunities will be open on Canvas.
MSDE Virtual Day Instruction Plan Application
Click to enlarge full overview
of the Virtual Plan Application Elements.
For easy reference for our entire community, when the school system is utilizing a virtual instruction day, the following graphic will be shared on social media.
Virtual Inclement Weather Day Graphic
Parents/Guardians
Students
Staff

Inclement Weather Policy

All public schools in Harford County will be closed on days when roads, school parking lots and/or school driveways/walkways are considered unsafe for school bus transportation or student/staff use. The decision to close is made by the superintendent of schools as early as possible. If a closure or delay is necessary on the day of an inclement weather event, efforts will be made to distribute that information by 5:00 a.m. The determination is made after consulting with the state police, the HCPS transportation office, the sheriff’s office, the state and county highway departments and other sources of information in different parts of the county.

Some weather conditions make it advisable to delay the opening time of schools. In such situations, the delayed prekindergarten plan will be in effect for half day programs

  • If schools are delayed one hour, morning half-day prekindergarten will start at 10:00 a.m.: afternoon half-day prekindergarten will proceed as originally scheduled; and fourth tier schools will begin at 10:30 a.m. Full day kindergarten programs will follow the school system schedule.
  • If schools are delayed two hours, there will be no morning half-day prekindergarten or early intervention programs; afternoon half-day prekindergarten will proceed as originally scheduled; and fourth tier schools will begin at 11:30 a.m. Full day prekindergarten programs will follow the school system schedule.
  • If schools have a scheduled teachers’ planning/early dismissal and there is a two-hour delay, students will NOT be dismissed early but remain in school for the regular school day.

Any change from the normal school schedule as a result of inclement weather will be communicated through our rapid telephone notification system, email, text message, Facebook, Twitter and provided to radio and television stations for broadcast. In addition, changes to the normal schedule will be listed on the HCPS website at www.hcps.org. Please note, we cannot control when the media posts inclement weather updates.

Parents/Guardians always have the right to not send their children to school if they feel travel conditions are unsafe. The student will be marked as lawfully absent.

Announcements will only be made when there is an unscheduled change to the schools operating schedule. No telephone calls or media announcements will be made when schools are operating on a normal schedule. In order to keep school telephone lines open for emergency calls, parents/guardians are urged not to call the school concerning closings or delays. This information will be reported as soon as possible using the communication vehicles listed above.

Normal School Hours of Operation
How to Get Notified About School Closings