One Year On, Jokela Remembers

Students, teachers and other staff members of the Jokela school observed a moment of silence in memory of the tragic mass murder-suicide that occurred one year ago. On November 7th, 2007 a student armed with a licensed pistol shot and killed eight students and staff before turning the weapon on himself. Education Minister Sari Sarkomaa and Bishop Mikko Heikka of the Espoo diocese, joined students and staff for a memorial service. Crisis management and support personnel were on hand at the Jokela school as well as the local youth centre on Friday. The Jokela church opened its doors from 10.00 am, while an evening service was planned to take place in the town centre. As dusk descended, candles were lit around a pond and at a monument on the school compound. One Year Not Enough to Recover In the year since the horrific shooting, students with lower-level coping skills have had access to psychiatric help. About one-third of the school's students have sought professional help in dealing with the tragedy. After-effects from the Jokela and Kauhajoki school shootings as well as fear aroused by the anniversary of the first incident have also manifested themselves in patients at health centres. A total of 40 people have served different terms of duty in providing aftercare following the Jokela shootings, and their work continues. The town of Tuusula has hired more personnel for the school, strengthened youth programmes and activities as well as bolstered communication between the school and students' parents. Budget estimates have called for 39 people to continue in aftercare at Jokela. The personnel include psychosocial professionals was well as teachers. The city plans to continue providing such care until the year 2012. Schools Targeted by Threats of Violence

Meanwhile several schools across Finland fell victim to threatening messages Friday. Students at the Ulvila upper secondary school in the Satakunta region abandoned classes during the morning because of rumours of threats.

Classes were cancelled at the Valkeakoski Polytechnic and Adult Education Centre because of similar hearsay, while police were busy investigating reports of threats of violence in schools in Lahti, Kiiuruvesi, and Kokkloa.

The threats came on the one-year anniversary of the Jokela school shootings.