Schools have been offering counselling to students affected by the recent spate of shootings on the Island.

Elliot Primary Deputy Principal Dianne Simmons said: "We have been talking to students in the school and offering counselling. It is just a few of our students that have really been affected."

Bermuda High School Head Linda Parker said: "We are taking the steps to reassure and comfort students if they are feeling particularly anxious or frightened."

Schools across the Island have taken additional precautions after ongoing gun violence has left three men shot dead in 12 days.

Yesterday Shane Minors was shot outside his home on Friswells Hill. On Wednesday Gary 'Fingaz' Cann was murdered on Soundview Road and last week Kumi Harford was gunned down in a hail of bullets on St. Monica's Road.

Director of Development at Mount Saint Agnes Lisa Bardgett said students were worried about escalating violence. "The students are concerned. No one has physically needed to seek extra help, but our guidance counsellor is always there if they need help."

"They are aware of (what's going on). When we go into lockdown they are very aware. It's hard. Do you stop doing what you do on a regular basis?"

MSA held a prayer service yesterday for middle and senior school students, which briefly touched on the shootings.

The school like many others including BHS, Saltus, CedarBridge and Berkeley were closed off from the public on Wednesday. MSA students were forced to stay on the premises at all times and could only leave once a parent picked them up.

"Basically we closed and secured the gates and didn't allow students to return to the courtyard at lunch hour," said Ms Bardgett. Elementary students stayed in their classrooms and middle school students went to the gym for their lunch hour.

Saltus Principal Ted Staunton said the school closed all gates and had a watchman/security guard at the entrance on Wednesday. In anticipation of further events, the school, situated right in the centre of Hamilton, plans to have a permanent security guard on the premises.

Francine McMahon, Principal at T. N. Tatem Middle School, said staff had spoken with students on how to stay safe outside school hours.

"Not to alarm them, but just to talk to them about security measures over the holidays," she said, like walking away from large groups of people and staying with another person at all times.

The middle school has also gone over their Crisis Emergency Plan. In the event there has to be a lock down, an intercom system turns on and children must stay in the classroom with their teachers, said Ms McMahon.

Whitney Institute Middle School Principal Freddie Evans said: "We are trying to ensure we have an abundance of support in place because this is an issue that affects everyone on the Island whether you are in a particular area or not.

"We are trying to take an abundance of caution to involve (parents), counsellors and clergy," Mr. Evans said.

Some parents who spoke to The Royal Gazette were fearful about letting their children out of the house. One mother, who only wanted to be called Denise, said she was concerned for her son's safety as he grew up with several young men involved in gangs.

"Some (of the gang members) he attended school and played sports with in their younger years,' she said.

"My son is very friendly and speaks to everyone and it could be that one occasion of just standing around holding a casual conversation with someone who is targeted and him being in the line of fire"

Jennifer Soares said she was very concerned. "I cancelled a trip to see The Frog Princess tomorrow night as I could not live with myself if anything random happened to my kids or their friends who were coming with us. It is very sad!"