A bomb threat issued Wednesday, Sept. 18 locked students in their fourth period classrooms at 12:15 p.m. as police investigated the school. The entire building was put into secure mode, in which students remained in locked classrooms, and no one entered or left the building until the threat was cleared. 

No bomb was found, and at 2:26 p.m., the secure mode was lifted.

“We assure you that we take all threats seriously as the safety of our students and staff is always our top priority,” Principal Michael Niggli wrote in an email sent at 12:35 p.m.

During the secure mode, some students were working on their homework while others, like sophomore Roy Zhao, hid in their classrooms to “feel safer.”

“I’m afraid of school threats,” Zhao said. “Especially after the shooting in Georgia, I was in a state of confusion as soon as I heard the announcement.”

As police and two K-9 German Shepherds searched the halls, cellphone usage was also prohibited. 

“At this time, [for] anyone that has a cellphone in the building, we need all cellphones turned off,” Dean of Instruction Debbie Campbell said over the intercom at 1:28 p.m. “I’m turning my cellphone off [right now].”

The secure mode lasted for over two hours. After a thorough interior and exterior search of the building by the HISD police department and additional law enforcement agencies, no bomb was found.

“The threat was unsubstantiated,” Principal Niggli wrote in a follow-up email. “That means we have no evidence of a real threat to the campus. This is frustrating on many levels because when schools receive threats such as this we take them seriously, but if it turns out to be a hoax or a joke then other avenues must be pursued. This is simply an unacceptable disruption to instruction and to the general school climate.”

Following fourth period, students proceeded to lunch on a staggered dismissal and modified class schedule that canceled fifth period classes.

Gallery • 3 Photos

Joy Xia

Five girls line up to be escorted to the restroom. Only three people are let out at a time for bathroom emergencies.

“[The modified schedule] is good because I don’t want to learn in my classes,” senior Feifan Liu said. “It’s kind of annoying that they’re cutting down lunch. I got lucky because I got released early, but everyone else is probably not going to get lunch.”

Niggli’s follow-up email at 2:43 p.m. announced that the campus was “cleared by HISD police.” 

“I feel relieved we didn’t die because that would be a really bad way to die,” Liu said. “[If] it’s a bomb, there’s nothing you can do.”

Administration assures parents and students it will continue to take measures to ensure student safety. A Level 5 offense will be issued to students who make false claims, threats and hoaxes according to the HISD Code of Conduct.

“Your child’s safety is our highest priority, and we want to reassure you that we take all threats seriously,” Niggli wrote to parents. “We encourage you to speak with your children about the gravity of making threats. I am deeply appreciative of the support I have received from our community around keeping our campus safe. It takes a community to keep a community safe, and your efforts do not go unnoticed. ”