Hyattsville, MD: 7 elementary students use blades to cut their wrists; another attempts suicide

April 18, 2018, Fox News: 7 elementary school students cut wrists with blades; parents notified weeks later http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/04/18/7-elementary-school-students-cut-wrists-with-blades-parents-notified-weeks-later.html Seven students at a Maryland elementary school cut their wrists using blades in pencil sharpeners a day after a parent said their daughter attempted suicide in the same building — but parents were only notified nearly three weeks later. Prince George’s County Public Schools officials said Tuesday the seven students at William Paca Elementary School in Hyattsville had cut their wrists on March 29, FOX5DC reported. A concerned parent came forward about the incident and officials launched an investigation. Just before spring break, parents at the school received a notice that handheld pencil sharpeners, with the detachable blades, were banned. … Officials did not reveal details on why the students had intentionally cut themselves, but parents of a fourth grader told FOX5 their daughter had attempted suicide in the same elementary school the day before the cutting incident. The parents said their daughter, who was repeatedly bullied at the school, attempted to hang herself with an apron in the school’s bathroom. … “The school also has a full-time mental health counselor to support students. As a preventative step, counselors are providing guidance lessons to all students on a range of topics related to the recent incidents at William Paca ES,” the statement read.