At 10 a.m. on Monday, the shrill sound of an alarm notified classes throughout the middle and high schools of the annual lockdown drill. Teachers filed their students into sheltered and secluded spaces for the duration of the approximately five minute drill. 

On Nov. 15, a New Jersey gunman opened fire on a high school football game. The day before, another shooter killed two and wounded three at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California. Lockdown drills have become more prevalent across the country as schools and universities become more aware of the dangers of school shootings. In 2019, there has been approximately one school shooting per week, according to CNN. 

Sophomore Julien Derroitte stressed that students should take lockdown drills more seriously. 

“I think it should be taken as something that’s very important in our political climate,” Julien said, “considering that we’ve done walkouts and different events that support going against school shootings.”