HPS Team,
This has been a terribly sad couple of weeks. First, we lost one of our own. I only met Julianna once, but I remember it vividly. I try to meet with a group of students on a regular basis. I enjoy hearing about their hopes, their dreams, and their experiences, as a student, a daughter/son, as a person. This is how I met Julianna. I remember her kindness, her enthusiasm for life, and mostly, I remember her smile.
During this time of mourning, it is comforting to know our team is there for the family and friends of Julianna. We need to celebrate her memory, support those who will continue to grieve, and do all we can to help our students reach their hopes and dreams. It seems more important now than ever before.
Then, tragedy struck Parkland, Florida last week. I have to be honest, I am still reflecting on and processing this incident. At my core, I am an optimist. I see the best in people and I assume positive intent. However, I fully recognize the significance of keeping our schools safe. There is nothing more important. This is what drove me to request our board to reinstate our district resource officer. It will continue to drive me to improve all aspects of our safety protocols, including staff training, building modifications, and partnerships with our local law enforcement. However, our most effective strategy is for us to build strong relationships with our students as well as to remain vigilant with recognizing and reporting warning signs. Moving forward, I will keep you updated on all of the essential items related to our school safety strategies. I am also aware that our students may choose to exercise their voice in this process through organized movements. I look forward to engaging them in dialog and providing them an opportunity to share their concerns and ideas for improvement. Our kids deserve safe and secure learning environments. This means continuing to adjust to a new “normal.” However, I will not allow this to compromise my core values of hopefulness and confidence about the future.
Thank you for doing what you do for our students, families, the community, and our Highlander team.
Sincerely,
Erin
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