Photo Courtesy of Zach Armstrong

A Greeley Police Department SWAT vehicle sits in the Greeley West parking lot on Wednesday afternoon.

During 8th hour on Wednedsay, Greeley West High School had to go into a “hold” situation where students and staff had to stay in the building due to police activity near the school.

In the middle of class, there were reports of a shooting near King Soopers off  35th Avenue. Principal Jeff Cranson over the intercom kept updating the school by letting everyone in the building know that he was in direct contact with the Greeley Police Department. 

For a hold-in, Greeley West continues teaching as usual but no student is allowed to go out to the hallway or outside for safety.  Teachers who are not teaching are to go outside and monitor who enters the building and who leaves. It’s important that the school has monitors to keep an eye as who knows how outside situations could escalate.

Naturally, students and faculty were worried about the situation going around Greeley West and mixed emotions were going around within the school. Senior Gaby Kile shared that she wasn’t exactly prepared with the amount of preparation the school has gone through this year. “Initially, I thought this was going to be another drill like the ones we’ve practiced all year,” Kile said.” When the ban lasted (longer), that’s when I started being concerned about what was happening near the school.”

Junior Roberto Arellano talked about the reactions that his fellow classmates had when the news broke out to the students. “There was the typical reaction of kids texting their parents to let them know that they were okay,” Arellano said. “What surprised me is that there were students that were still careless watching Tik Toks and using the situation as a way to push away from what was being taught.”

Teachers had to now switch their mentality where instead of thinking it was a drill, to now put their training in action. Social studies teacher Izbeth Pacheco had to give a moment of grace to her students so that they were allowed to notify their parents. “In these situations, I know exactly what the parents would be thinking and how they’re feeling, so I allowed my students to text their parents to let them know that they are well and safe,” Pacheco stated.

Of course, the freshmen had to act up as they couldn’t keep their eyes away from the action. “It was inevitable that my freshmen had to disobey in a way. They just stayed glued to the window seeing if there was any escalation of the situation,” Pacheco explained. “ I had to keep reminding them that class was still in session and they just wouldn’t listen.”

Thankfully, school resumed as usual and students were released neaer the 3:40 time frame they were looking forward to.