A middle school student is recovering after school officials say they were injured during an attack following dismissal at a school in Waukegan.
John Lewis Middle School Principal Molly Schaefer this week sent a letter to parents informing them of increased safety measures around the school campus during dismissal times.
The measures come in response to an incident that occurred Monday afternoon following dismissal at Lewis Middle School.
Schaefer said a student was attacked by an older teenager, who was accompanied by other teenage subjects.
The student suffered facial injuries and is recovering.
Staff have worked with safety personnel and law enforcement since Monday to investigate the matter, Schaefer said.
It was determined that the attacker was an older relative of another John Lewis Middle School student. It is believed that the incident was targeted.
The school has also worked to implement new safety measures, including increased security at dismissal and more frequent visual sweeps of the area around the building.
“We understand that students who witnessed Monday’s incident may be troubled by the event. Support staff have been made available to students in recent days. If you feel your child would benefit from speaking further with one of our mental health professionals, please contact our main office,” Schaefer said.
Schaefer added that any student who feels threatened or unsafe in school is urged to speak with a trusted adult to ensure the necessary support can be provided.
“We thank everyone for your efforts to ensure a safe environment at Lewis, and we continue to urge all students to report any situations they may encounter at school, as well as on their way to and from school, which they consider to be suspicious or unsafe,” Schaefer said.