Students and staff at Cedar Point Elementary in Bristow are safe this afternoon, following an unsubstantiated bomb threat at 2:12 p.m on Wednesday.
According to Prince William County Schools Communications Specialist Phil Kavits, students were evacuated, and Prince William County Police brought in bomb-sniffing dogs.
Throughout the event, students stood on the lawn adjacent to the school with their teachers until their dismissal at 3:30 p.m. They were not able to bring any homework or personal belongings, and according to According to Kavits, the staff provided the children with snacks.
Along the Braemar Parkway Prince William Police officers created a perimeter keeping parents off school property and from signing out their children for early dismissal.
But many parents did gather across the street from the school, waiting for their children to be dismissed. Those parents, who pick up their children from Iona Sound Drive every day, remarked that there were many more parents present on that afternoon.
Knowing that their children were safe, some parents even joked that the bomb threats have become an annual event, and if forewarned they could bring refreshments.
However, many parents were concerned that there have been a series of incidents at the school and found it particularly odd to receive multiple bomb threats at an elementary school within a seven-month period.
One mother said that there have been other strange incidents over the past few years at Cedar Point, and she referred to letters parents received.
Parents were also supportive of the police officers on the scene, although one woman said she would feel better if the children had been taken farther away from the building.
From the view on Iona Sound Drive, it appeared there were at least 10 officers on school grounds. Some held back the crowd and directed traffic, while others handled the bomb-sniffing dogs.
At 3:36 p.m., a school staff member crossed the street and provided information on the dismissal procedure of the students. They would first be dismissing bus riders, then kiss and ride passengers, if guardians had their ID numbers, and then walkers.
In regards to last February’s bomb threat, police spokesman Officer Jonathan Perok confirmed it was as a result of a student note. According a few mothers, although the note contained the word “bomb," it was not ultimately considered a threat.
Some parents said they planned to tell their children it was just an extended fire drill, which is what the school had told the children in February.
Middle school students who were released from school early were already on their bikes and scooters, excitedly talking about the day's events.
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