(MCT) — WASHINGTON — Bear Nikitchyuk, 8, and another student were headed to the principal’s office at Sandy Hook Elementary School with attendance sheets last Friday when they heard louds noises “like banging on a door” and ran, only to be pulled into a classroom by a quick-thinking teacher.

“These two wonderful kids were saved by the bravery of the wonderful teacher Mrs. (Abbey) Clements, which we’ll forever be grateful for. ... She pulled them into her own classroom and barricaded the door and they were saved,” said Bear’s father, Andrei Nikitchyuk.