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Parents experience anxious moments during Jupiter Community High School lockdown

Mom of high school student describes flood of information
Julie Shapiro, a mother of student at Jupiter High School, speaks about the anxious moments she experienced during Thursay's lockdown.
Posted at 3:34 PM, Dec 08, 2022
and last updated 2022-12-08 18:18:38-05

JUPITER, Fla. — There were some tense moments at Jupiter Community High School on Thursday after the school district said there was an isolated medical incident involving a student.

WPTV was alongside Julie Shapiro of Jupiter, a parent of a junior at the school, as she received communication about the lockdown at her son's school Thursday morning.

"Gavin texted me from school and mentioned that something happened at school," Shapiro said. "It just makes my heart race."

Shapiro said the communication came through multiple outlets — phone calls, text messages and emails from school officials, other parents and her son, who was inside the school.

Police investigate at Jupiter Community High School, Dec. 8, 2022
Crime scene investigators are observed on the campus of Jupiter Community High School after a medical emergency involving a student on Dec. 8, 2022, in Jupiter, Fla.

"I was worried. I was scared. My heart stopped," Shapiro said.

While she appreciated swift communication from the school district, Shapiro said speculation that quickly swirled online was frustrating.

"Your mind wanders," she said. "There's already stuff on social media, and no one knows. They're not there."

Like many others, Shapiro said her heart goes out to the student and their family as the school community waits to learn more about what happened.

"I'm feeling for the parents, even if you know them or don't. It's a child," Shapiro said. "I don't know what other kids saw at school. It affects everybody. It's sad."

The student was taken to a hospital for treatment.