Update: Police investigating pencil-stabbing attack reported by Roxhill Elementary student

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5:53 PM SUNDAY: Police are investigating a report of bullying turned violent at a local school. The victim’s mother told them it happened at Roxhill Elementary on October 30th; it was not reported to police until she went to the Southwest Precinct desk on November 5th, according to the detailed report that was added to SPD’s publicly viewable online files this weekend. Here’s what the report says:

The mother told police her 10-year-old daughter has been the victim of bullying for some time. On the 30th, around 1 pm, the girl, according to the report narrative:

… was at the computer desk, working, when the suspect who was behind her stabbed her in the buttocks 4-5 times with a pencil. She said that she turned toward the suspect and he stabbed her on the right forearm with the pencil, drawing blood. She said she told (a teaching assistant, who) said that he would take care of the incident. Victim’s mother learned of the incident, and attempted to contact the school principal, who did not return the mother’s phone calls until she left a message that she was going to take up the issue with the school board.

Complainant said that last night, 11-4-14, she received a (phone call) from the principal, who said that she had not been advised of the incident. Although the injury was close to a week old, Officer Hybak photographed the injury, which was still visible.

We will be following up with the school district to find out about the claim that the incident hadn’t been followed up on at school. We checked the Seattle Fire 911 log to see if medical help had been summoned that day, but there are no calls listed for Roxhill’s address.

ADDED 12:46 PM MONDAY: SPS spokesperson Stacy Howard tells us that the district is “looking into” this. She also says the victim’s family has since taken her and a relative out of SPS. And the “teaching assistant,” she says, was not a district employee, but was a member of the CityYear corps assigned to Roxhill.

JanS November 9, 2014 (6:42 pm)

very sad. If the student that was stabbed has been bullied before this,she was probably afraid to make waves. But this is violent and harmful, not kids being kids. The school needs better communications between admins. if the principal was not told. The teaching asst. dropped the ball, for sure.

Hope this gets taken care of swiftly. These are elementary school children…..and this needs to be nipped in the bud before it escalates. If it was done once, it will be done again, esp. if no one does anything about it. :(

evergreen November 9, 2014 (11:50 pm)

Glad police are involved. Stabbing with a pencil needs to be taken seriously. This mother did the right thing.

steve November 10, 2014 (9:30 am)

Good mom.

Former Roxhill Dad November 10, 2014 (1:44 pm)

Our son was threatened with a weapon from a former student at Roxhill and the staff never cared. We demanded to discuss the issue with the principal who did not want to hear it, even though there is a ZERO TOLERANCE WEAPONS POLICY. Calls to the district referred us back to the principal… We have left SPS as well.

West Seattle Hipster November 10, 2014 (3:10 pm)

Good for the mother for not giving up and standing up for her child, who is the victim of an assault.

Shame on the principal for doing absolutely nothing. She should not be in her position.

flimflam November 10, 2014 (3:15 pm)

wow, how awful. we all know kids can be cruel, but this goes way over the line. i’m sure the bully’s parents will say, “there is no way my little precious could have possibly done such a thing”.

.
the kid should go to juvenile court for this – hopefully scare some sense into the little jerk.

.
a real shame that the family has to find another school because of this bully. I really hope the bully’s parents can teach their child how to behave like a decent human.

Another Former Roxhill Parent November 10, 2014 (3:46 pm)

“Victim’s mother learned of the incident, and attempted to contact the school principal, who did not return the mother’s phone calls until she left a message that she was going to take up the issue with the school board.”

Unfortunately, calls or e-mails to the principal going completely ignored has been our experience with Roxhill as well.
There are still a few wonderful staff members left at Roxhill, however I fear that they will continue to find jobs elsewhere as many amazing Roxhill staff members have already done.
Something needs to change.

Another Former Roxhill Parent November 10, 2014 (3:50 pm)

West Seattle Hipster November 10, 2014 (5:02 pm)

Would love to hear an explanation from the principal on why she is not following up on these incidents and protecting the children.

I will be sending an email to the school board regarding the principal’s lack of leadership.

Roxhill Parent November 10, 2014 (6:02 pm)

Going to the PTSA meeting tonight 6-730 to inquire about the behavior policy that the school is working with this year.

Disappointed this traumatic incident was handled so poorly.

AmandaKH November 10, 2014 (8:48 pm)

Just came from the PTSA meeting. The school sent home a letter today discussing the situation, and the actions taken. And, Ms Washington was at the meeting tonight to answer questions. As a parent, I feel very confident in Ms Washington and her staff’s reaction and handling of this very complex situation.

Former Roxhill Dad November 10, 2014 (11:12 pm)

Unfortunately, that Roxhill principal was PROMOTED within SPS, Ms Washington is new.

Bradley November 11, 2014 (8:06 pm)

ALWAYS report violent crimes like this to the police first before reporting it to school bureaucrats.

Thomas M. November 12, 2014 (8:08 pm)

Complex? When I was a kid a stupid act like that would get your fanny “hacked”, and your parents would ground you for a month. Meanwhile the district “studies the problem to death”. As they say in Vietnam: “Nothing done, but well reported”.

Sorry, comment time is over.