In the wake of Sunday night’s Grove Street shooting, Tilton Elementary School Principal Bonnie Antkowiak is choosing to focus on the positive.
The morning after gunfire rang out a stone’s throw from the school on July 21, Antkowiak went on a kindness crusade via social media to reassure students and families that while the weekend incident was indeed frightening, there are more good people in Haverhill than bad.
Without referencing the violence directly, the educator took a cue from Fred Rogers when encouraging her Tilton Tigers to always look for the “helpers”—including Haverhill Police officers, among others.
“Sometimes scary things happen: Look for helpers! I know lots of great helpers on Grove Street that do great things for our students,” Antkowiak said.
To further her message, Antkowiak has kicked off a week of posting “great things that happen on Grove Street,” to help children feel safe. Monday’s inaugural post included video messages of support for teachers and students who inspire the Tilton community. Additional social media posts are planned for later in the week, Antkowiak told WHAV.
As WHAV exclusively reported Sunday night, Haverhill Police were dispatched to the area near 163 Grove St. in the city’s Mount Washington area after several shots were fired, sending one person to a local hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries.
Unconfirmed social media reports suggest a 17-year-old pregnant teen may have been involved in the incident, though Haverhill Police spokesman Capt. Stephen J. Doherty Jr. declined to identify the person shot late Monday afternoon.
Anyone with knowledge of the incident is asked to contact Haverhill Police Det. Kyle McCann at 978-373-1212 x1578. Anonymous tips are accepted.