May 27 Incident at RHS

1 p.m. message to RHS students:

Dear RHS students,

I know today was stressful and confusing. I am sorry that you are all living and growing up in a world where violence and school shootings have become regular news headlines and I am especially heartbroken when they are in our own community. 

I want to reassure you that we take your safety very seriously. Even though we did not believe the social media threat to be credible, we always want to ensure your safety is our top priority. When you return to school on Tuesday, please know that we will be here to support you and to ensure a safe learning environment.

Right now should be a time of celebration for all you have accomplished this year—especially for our senior class. Each and every one of you deserves a bright future full of possibility. 

All of the RHS staff are ready to welcome you back on Tuesday with all the love, care and kindness you deserve. Our collective care for each other will ensure a strong finish to our school year.

Sincerely,

Principal Stacy Theien-Collins

 

11:22 a.m. update to families:

Dear RPS Community,

The Richfield Police Department released a statement regarding today’s threat to Richfield High School. In the statement, the police state that “investigators do not believe there are any additional risks or concerns to our community.” You can review the full statement here. We are sharing this with you so that you are fully informed. 

We know today’s incident can cause increased stress in light of recent violence and the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Texas this week. We want to reassure you that we partnered with Richfield police throughout this process and, by the time school was starting, we did not believe that any other schools in the district were at risk. The decision to close RHS for the day was made primarily due to the timing and needing to make a decision before buses left to pick up RHS students. 

If you feel your child needs additional support, please reach out to us. Our student support staff are here to help. 

We hope you are all able to take time over this long weekend to connect with loved ones and to do something kind for yourself or others. This has been a very difficult week for many of us.

Thank you as always for your support.

 

7:30 a.m. message to our community:

Early this morning, we received a screenshot of a social media post that was making a threat specific to Richfield High School. Unlike yesterday’s nationwide threat to schools named “RHS,” this included a photo of a student in Richfield High School clothing.

The Richfield Police Department has been actively investigating and, while this is not believed to be a credible threat, we have made the decision to cancel school at Richfield High School today out of caution.

Each spring, schools across the country experience an increase in the number of threats they receive. Often, it is students hoping we will suspend classes. We take all threats seriously, even those considered a prank. We intend to maintain an orderly environment at RHS, and the District will pursue disciplinary and legal action against any student or person involved in these types of incidents. RPS does not tolerate school violence, threats of violence, or weapons on school property.

We are very grateful to the Richfield Police Department for their response and support today. It is our goal to finish the year in a very positive way. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about school safety.

Sincerely,

Principal Stacy Theien-Collins

 

P.S. As this is an official police investigation, we are currently unable to provide any additional details on the situation. Thank you for your understanding.