In response to concerns over threats of school violence posted on the social media platform TikTok, Butler Catholic School will keep students inside school buildings and not accept outside visitors during the school day on Dec. 17.

Principal Sister John Ann Mulhern said that the soft lockdown was out of an abundance of caution.

“Staff and no other people will be coming in,” she said. “The children will be inside today, even during lunch and recess, so that they are safe. We have no indication of anything going on, it's just out of abundance of caution for the kids.”

Mulhern received the Pennsylvania Department of Education letter warning of non-specific threats posted on TikTok, and said that all precautions are to keep students as safe as possible. A school mass with parent visitors had previously been planned for Dec. 17, but the event will go on without parent visitors.

“It's a sad commentary on where we are in the world today, it really is, especially at this time of the year,” she said. “It makes it very difficult, and it's hard for the little ones to understand.”

Students will still be able to take their school bus home or be picked up as normal at the end of the day.

“We're trying to keep things as ordinary as possible for the kids, and that way there is security in normalcy,” Mulhern said. “We're keeping kids safe, that's what it's all about.”

The State Department of Education letter, sent Dec 16, specifies that the social media posts warn of threats, but are "not specific to Pennsylvania and do not contain specific threats, schools, actors, or locations."

The Pennsylvania State Police and local police departments are aware of the situation, the letter said, and anyone with further information is encouraged to contact Safe2Say or call 911 in the event of an emergency.

Additionally, Seneca Valley students are learning virtually Friday after an anonymous social media account made apparent threats of violence.