Toy Gun on Bus Prompts Letter to Green-Fields Parents

A student riding bus 5 to Green-Fields Elementary School Thursday morning was spotted with a plastic toy gun, sparking a letter from the school principal to parents.

Just six days removed from the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Newtown, CT, West Deptford officials acted knowing that concern might run higher than normal.  

Principal Jon Cohen sent the letter to all parents whose children ride bus 5 to avoid misunderstandings. 

“Given that your child may come home and report seeing a gun,” Cohen wrote, “I wanted to take proactive steps, by calling you this morning, to reassure this was, in fact, a plastic toy and it had not been used in a threatening manner.” 

Superintendent Kevin Kitchenman said it’s not uncommon for a child to occasionally bring a toy gun to school, but felt communication to the parents was necessary at this time.

“In light of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary, this situation will obviously be viewed by parents with a higher level of concern than usual,” Kitchenman said. 

Kitchenman said Cohen handled the matter, but declined to be specific. The district does not allow toy guns in school, and Cohen addressed the incident in compliance with that policy, the superintendent added.

Parents who have any questions about today's incident are encouraged to call the school.

The full letter from Cohen to parents reads:

Good Morning,

This is Jon Cohen, principal of Green-Fields.

Understandably, in the wake on the Newtown tragedy, parents and educators have a heightened sense of concern as it relates to our children’s safety in school. In being sensitive to that reality, I wanted to make you aware that a student brought a plastic toy gun onto bus 5 this morning. Given that your child may come home and report seeing a gun, I wanted to take proactive steps, by calling you this morning, to reassure you that this was, in fact, a plastic toy, and it had not been used in a threatening manner.

If you have any related questions, please do not hesitate to call the school.

Thank you and have a wonderful, safe and healthy holiday season!