Middle School Fight Clubs Elicit Warning From Principal
LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — Students at Lunsford Middle School in Loudoun County have been hosting elaborate fight clubs, according to school officials.
The school system claimed the students have set up brackets and gambling guidelines, and some parents have even hosted the fight clubs at their homes.
In a recent newsletter to families, Lunsford Middle School principal Carrie Simms warned parents about the existence of the fight clubs.
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“We’d like to take a moment to inform parents of outside influences that have tried to make their way into the building,” Simms wrote. “Students have created ‘fight clubs,’ some of them elaborate with brackets, betting, and challenges, and many parents are well aware of their child’s participation in them, some hosting in their garages or basements.”
Simms also warned students and parents that the school would intervene when fights come to campus or invoke the school’s name.
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“We cannot tell you how to parent, but when your children create TikToks and Instagram pages using Lunsford’s name, and then attempt to hold these fights in our hallways and bathrooms, we will take action,” Simms said.
A Loudoun County spokesperson told Patch they could not provide any specific information about fight clubs on campus because it involves student discipline.
The spokesperson said Simms decided to address the fight clubs after a physical altercation on campus last week.
“This past Friday, we needed to do a ‘reset’ in the morning and ask students to come in, get their things from their lockers, and report directly to advisory without the usual 20 minutes of free time to walk around the school to socialize with friends,” Simms wrote in her newsletter. “Unfortunately, some students created a very unsafe situation for all and we needed to be able to start our education for the day in a calm manner.”
A Loudoun County spokesperson echoed Simms message to community members.
“Violent behavior, fighting, and its promotion on social media have no place in our school community,” an LCPS spokesperson told Patch. “We take matters that involve the safety of our students and staff, both physical and emotional, seriously and will continue to enhance our efforts in cultivating a culture of kindness, inclusivity, and affirmation for every member of our student body and staff.”
Authorities have not publicly announced any criminal charges related to assaults at the school.
Anyone concerned about their safety at a Loudoun County Public School can submit a tip anonymously online.
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