Dear UPCS 6-12 Parents and Guardians,
UPCS 6-12 has been made aware of a troubling post that has been shared widely this week on the social media platform TikTok. The post refers to a threat to school safety “for every school in the USA, even elementary,” on Friday, December 17. The post appears to be part of a national TikTok trend and did not originate in our school district.
While we do not believe the threat to be credible, we are closely monitoring the situation and taking it seriously. Mr. Blake has been in contact with the Zone 2 City Police regarding the post and will be on heightened alert. The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and the Pennsylvania State Police are also aware of the posts.
All school safety matters are taken seriously by the school. This situation serves as a good example of why it is important to avoid sharing posts online that refer to school safety threats. Even if they are not credible threats, they can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety for our students, families, and staff. We ask our families to monitor their children’s social media activity and speak with them about proper behavior online.
If you or your child become aware of any potential threat posted to social media or anywhere else, please notify a school staff member or trusted adult right away. Students and parents may also use the Safe2Say website (https://www.safe2saypa.org/) or app to report a concern at any hour of the day.
Safety in our school is everyone’s responsibility. Thank you for your continued partnership as we work to ensure a safe and secure learning environment for our students.
UPCS 6-12 Administration