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Mountain View High holds parent-teacher conferences one day after student stabs 5 classmates

Posted at 6:47 AM, Nov 17, 2016
and last updated 2016-11-17 08:47:28-05

OREM, Utah - Three times a year, the Alpine School District holds parent-teacher conferences, and it just so happened one of those conferences was scheduled the day after a violent attack in the Mountain View High School boys' locker room.

Five students were transported to the hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries after a fellow classmate began stabbing them.

"That's part of the reason I came, not because my kid is struggling in school, but mostly because I want to know that the school is a safe place to send him every day," said parent Malia Alder.

Alder is grateful that Mountain View has been so open and honest.

"To be able to come and actually physically talk with them and see the teachers and get that kind of physical reassurance, where they can look you in the eye and say: 'We are taking this serious,'" said Alder.

Principal Taran Chun said an incident like this affects everyone from parents, teachers to students, and it's important they all work together.

"We went through a range of emotions yesterday, but we are not going to shy away from what happened, we're not going to try and hide from it, we're going to talk about it," Chun said.

Some of the families were more invested than others. Melinda Stone's son was in the same physical education class where the stabbing took place.

"It's hard, I think they've had to grow up a little bit this week, more than you want your child to grow up right now," Stone said.

Student Nathan Granadas is friends with one of the victims, who remains in the hospital.

"I never really considered why it would be him because he is one of the nicest kids I know and he didn't deserve it," Granadas said.

Nathan's mom wants to see changes as a result of this attack.

"If there is other ways that we can figure out security, I would like that," Camie Granadas said.

Despite these difficult times, the school district's spirit remains strong. Students from various high schools plastered hearts, posters and messages of support across the Mountain View hallways.

"So many other high schools, you know who are rivals with everybody, have come together, you know, and brought well wishes and love and concern for the students of Mountain View," said parent Christy Luque.