Police Patrols Added At Centennial Schools Friday

WARMINSTER, PA — The Centennial School District will have an added police presence Friday in the wake of calls for violence regarding the Israel-Hamas War.

Like several neighboring school districts in Lower Bucks County, Centennial has asked for additional police patrols as a precaution to better protect students, staff, and school buildings.

Schools Superintendent Dana Bedden sent an email to Centennial families and staff late Thursday afternoon requesting additional patrols from police departments in Warminster and Upper Southampton Township, which covers the school district.

“Please be advised that as a proactive and precautionary measure, the CSD Safety and Security Supervisor has requested both police departments servicing CSD schools to provide extra patrols of our buildings,” Bedden said.

“We enjoy and appreciate the continued support of our local law enforcement, who routinely prioritize our schools' safety and security,” the superintendent said.

Bensalem also bolstered patrols at houses of worship Friday and Northampton Township is doing so at its schools and religious establishments.

According to the Israeli government, the death toll from Hamas' devastating attack over the weekend has reached 1,200 people, most of whom were unarmed civilians.

Centennial school officials said that they've been informed by the Delaware Valley Intelligence Center (DVIC) Business Operations Center (BOC) that there are no credible threats by Hamas and that the FBI is collecting and analyzing intelligence from a variety of sources, but do not have specific intelligence reflecting additional attack planning against the United States.

However, as with any situation like this, please keep in mind that we will continue to monitor and take appropriate action to ensure safety, as advised by the relevant agencies. The FBI and DHS encourage the public to promptly report information concerning suspicious activity to tips.fbi.gov or contact their local FBI field office (www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices). Please call 911 to report emergencies, including imminent threats to life, school officials said.

"We as a school district must uphold our commitment to promoting a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for all our students, staff, and their families, regardless of their backgrounds or beliefs," Bedden said.

The school board adopted shared values that emphasize:

1. Mutual respect and empathy towards others
2. Equitable access to learning experiences and resources
3. Safety, well-being, and a sense of belonging for all

Our students and staff represent diverse backgrounds and faiths. Maintaining a respectful and inclusive atmosphere that ensures all students and staff can grow as thoughtful, creative, and responsible learners and citizens is essential.

If any students are experiencing distress due to recent events or related issues, please know that our school district is here to offer support, resources, and counseling services. Please don't hesitate to contact your children's school for additional information about our Student Assistance Program.

Recognizing that these concerns and fears may also surface at home, we’ve compiled some resources for parents and guardians. Please feel free to reference the links below should you need assistance in talking with your children about what is happening (the inclusion of the links is not intended to be an endorsement by CSD but a possible resource):

National Child Traumatic Stress Network
https://www.nctsn.org/resources/talking-to-children-about-war

National Association of School Psychologists
https://www.schoolcounselor.org/Publications-Research/Publications/Free-ASCA-Resources/Helping-Students-in-Troubling-Times

HealthyChildren.org
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/Talking-To-Children-About-Tragedies-and-Other-News-Events.aspx

Learning for Justice
https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/handle-with-care-supporting-young-people-during-crises

As always, the district is committed to maintaining a safe, positive learning environment for all, free from discrimination. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your school or the district, school officials said.