Most students in the Highlands Middle School band had never picked up an instrument, until six months ago. Now the band members sound like they’ve been practicing for years, and they’re playing in national festivals.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A total of 41 students at Highlands Middle School were exposed to pepper spray last week when a student mistook the canister, which was taken from another student, for a body fragrance product, according to Duval County Public Schools. The principal said it was learned that one of the students at the school was in possession of a small canister of pepper spray for personal use. The principal said another student took the pepper spray from the other student’s belongings, thinking it was body spray, and released the canister as if he were applying a body fragrance product. According to the school district, the student who took the pepper spray was issued a juvenile civil citation. The school district said the student who was originally in possession of the small canister of pepper spray will face “appropriate disciplinary consequences for bringing a prohibited item on campus."

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Students at Highlands Middle School could have their bags checked Monday, according to Dr. Diana Greene, superintendent of Duval County Public Schools. Greene was asked whether there would be extra safety measures Monday at Highlands Middle after 41 students were exposed to pepper spray Friday in the school’s gymnasium. It may be we will do random bag checks on Monday," Greene said during a news conference Friday. Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department Chief Keith Powers said those affected were transported to area hospitals out of an abundance of caution. According to the school administration, parents of students should have received a robocall explaining Friday’s situation.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Firefighters responding to a mass casualty event at Highlands Middle School on Friday afternoon took 41 seventh-grade students suffering effects from pepper spray to area hospitals, according to Duval County Public Schools. The incident happened just after 1 p.m. in the gym when it is believed multiple students released pepper spray during a fifth-period physical education class. "Give them a chance to recover, recoup, return to school and then get the information from them then.”Edwards said any container with more than 2 ounces of pepper spray for personal use is not allowed at school. Eight students were also taken to UF Health North, six to Memorial, five to Baptist North and three to Normandy Park ER. “My goal is to ensure that we can provide an environment that students can feel safe to come to school.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A school security guard at Highlands Middle School on the Northside was arrested Thursday on a child abuse charge stemming from an incident involving a student, Duval County Public Schools officials said. According to the school district, the incident occurred Tuesday at Highlands Middle and Holmes left the school after it happened. She said two of her grandchildren, who are in the sixth grade at Highlands Middle School, talked about Holmes’ bad reputation of being overly aggressive. She felt more needed to be done, expressing concern that school officials had heard complaints about Holmes before. As of Thursday, according to a DCPS spokeswoman, Holmes was still employed by the school district.