No Credible Threat at Woodbridge High: Principal

Police have determined there is no credible danger to students or staff following recent threats at Woodbridge High School, according to a letter from Principal Heather Abney to parents on Friday.

“Police and PWCS security continue to investigate to ensure complete safety and to find out who is responsible for subjecting all of us to anxiety and the disruption of our daily educational routine,” Abney wrote.

The Prince William County School District announced Thursday evening that it was working with police following “yet another” threat of violence posted on a wall at the school.

The threat made reference to a specific date next week, according to a statement from the district.

“I expect every day next week and throughout the year to be the same,” Abney wrote. “Again, we will let you know if at any time there is reason to believe otherwise.”

Letter from Principal Heather Abney

Dear Woodbridge High School Family: In less than a week as your principal, I reached out to you about two cases of purported threats against our school. Both involved threatening statements in graffiti on a school wall. Police are still looking into both incidents but are confident that neither case suggests any credible danger to our students, staff, or building.

Police and PWCS security continue to investigate to ensure complete safety and to find out who is responsible for subjecting all of us to anxiety and the disruption of our daily educational routine. Anyone found to be behind these threats will face serious legal and disciplinary consequences. We will continue to be vigilant in getting to the bottom of these cases, and more importantly in taking prudent precautions to ensure the safety our school.

We will let you know if, at any time, there is reason for concern. But we not will fall into the trap of revealing specific security precautions on any given day, or of wasting time and energy by focusing attention on specific dates mentioned in threats that are not considered serious; doing that would subject our students, staff, and community to needless and continuing worry.

Thanks to your support and understanding, today was a safe and normal educational day at Woodbridge High School. I expect every day next week and throughout the year to be the same. Again, we will let you know if at any time there is reason to believe otherwise.

Together, we will continue to learn and grow in the safety of our school, and not let anyone take that privilege away.