12-year-old, 13-year-old arrested after fire set to school playground

By Adam Thompson

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    BALTIMORE, Maryland (WJZ) — A 12-year-old and a 13-year-old are accused of setting fire to a school playground on Saturday in Baltimore’s Brooklyn neighborhood, according to our media partner The Baltimore Banner.

According to a social media post by the Baltimore City Fire Department’s Engine 57, the playground at Maree G. Farring Elementary/Middle School in the 300 block of Pontiac Avenue was set on fire.

The two children were arrested for “deliberately setting fire to the playground,” Baltimore City Schools spokesperson Sherry Christian told the Banner.

Christian said the school will be open on Monday for the first day of the school year.

Protecting your mental health

As students and teachers start in Maryland, doctors are warning are making mental health a priority.

Dr. Carmen López-Arvizu, director of outpatient psychiatry services at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, shared ways to talk to your children about mental health and how to keep the conversation going.

López-Arvizu said the key is to keep conversations consistent about mental health and suicide. At first, she recommends asking how they’re feeling and about their mood.

For families who feel they need extra help, López-Arvizu said to start looking for help with other family members and close family contacts.

Being safe around school buses

Another concern for Maryland education leaders is safety around school buses.

Buses in school districts across the state are equipped with cameras.

In Howard County, these cameras issued 8,285 citations during the last school year. That equals out to around 46 citations each school day.

“The reason for these rules is to protect our children getting on or off the bus,” said Chrissy Nizer, the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) administrator.

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