Kemptville’s St. Michael Catholic High School closed again Oct. 15 for new threat

Once again, St. Michael Catholic High School in Kemptville is closed.

The Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario issued a letter to parents, guardians and caregivers at 5:24 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15 starting that they were notified by police at 3 a.m. that morning of another anonymous threat directed to the school. As such, the school will be closed on that day, and all transportation and school activities will be cancelled.

St. Michael re-opened on Wednesday, Oct. 9 after being closed for nearly a week due to similar threats. A number of extra measures were taken to ensure student safety and well-being, including a police presence and extra locks on doors.

“We recognize the difficulty the St. Michael community of students, staff, and families has experienced, and we want to ensure that the return to school is positive and supportive for all,” last week’s letter about the re-opening read. “We understand the difficulty of this journey we have undertaken together, but we have always prioritized the safety and well-being of your children and will continue to do so in the days ahead.”

A similar threat was made two weeks ago to Seaway District High School in Iroquois. Police are continuing to investigate both situations. Media relations officer for the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Bill Dickson told Brockvilleist last week that while police cannot speculate on any connection between these incidents, “that is part of the ongoing investigation.”

“We understand the stress and concern these incidents have caused for students, parents, school staff and everyone in the community,” Dickson continued. “We remain committed to locating the individual or individuals responsible and holding them accountable.”