Recently, security standards have risen on the internet and at Quince Orchard High School, as well as at other Montgomery County Public Schools, to promote the safety of teenagers.

In MCPS, safety strategies are developed and practiced in case of an emergency, to protect students. For this reason, schools practice Code Red, Code Blue, and fire drills.

According to the MCPS website, during a Code Blue, “an emergency/crisis exists at or near an MCPS facility. All students are to be accounted for and under supervision.”

The website states that a Code Red is “an alert status indicating imminent danger exists to all staff and students. During a Code Red, staff and students must remain within their classroom or within a secured area.”

Even though these procedures are to ensure the safety of the school environment, some students feel like there could be more precautions taken.

Junior Andry Ortiz said, “[The school] could be more aware of who comes in and out of the building.”

Security standards have risen not only in MCPS schools, but on the internet as well. Some websites like Myspace and Facebook have altered their website and security settings, so personal information is not easily released to the public.

“The internet is open to pretty much everyone. You never know who is looking you up,” said Junior Chinenye Monde.

The websites allow users to choose security settings to suit their comfort level when it comes to releasing personal information. These websites “let you choose if you want only your friends to see your profile or if you want everyone to see it,” added Ortiz.

When it comes to strangers and people you don’t know on the internet, students can make personal decisions on whether to “friend” the person in question.

“I would never meet someone face-to-face that I met over the internet,” added Monde. “There are too many crazy people.”