A scare for a Heartland girl becomes a teaching moment for her school and neighborhood.
Douglas County Deputies were called out after a 4th grade girl at Manchester Elementary reported that a man in a van tried to get her inside the vehicle.
While Douglas County Deputies investigate and look for a man in a white or silver mini-van the parents and staff at Manchester Elementary are using this as a teachable moment.
The girl was approached by the man who said he was safe because his daughter was also in the van. She refused and when she got home told her mother.
Mom informed the school and called deputies.
It's the night of the school fundraiser at Manchester Elementary, a night of fun and food. There is even a bounce house for the kids.
But earlier on Friday a 9-year-old girl was approached by a man in a mini-van. Melanie Connolly says she and her husband go over such a scenario with their children.
Melanie Connolly says, "No one will ever pick you up unless we tell you. It will only be people you know; aunts, uncles no one you don't recognize will ever pick you up."
The girl, who authorities say, was approached by the man in a van went home and told her mother; soon after that an alert went out to the Manchester parents.
Amy Christ says, "A good opportunity to remind parents to review those stranger danger rules with kids and in my email to parents I said what a smart student we have here at Manchester, she knew not to get into the vehicle and to tell her parents when she got home."
Douglas County Deputies are investigating the incident and are asking anyone who may have seen any suspicious people or vans to report it.
Meanwhile the parents of Manchester students will keep a closer eye on them and most will review the stranger danger rules and what to do if approached.
Melanie Connolly says, "If something feels weird it is weird and go tell mom and dad, go tell adults who you know and trust."
The Connolly's play a game with their children called "what would you do?" It involves possible situations the kids would find themselves in, like; what if a stranger grabs your puppy?
Answer: go tell mom and dad.
