10/12/2023 Community Update
Keeping Our Students Safe
Dear Springfield Public Schools Community,
This has been an incredibly painful week for communities around the world. Our hearts are with our students, staff, and families impacted by the ongoing horrific events in Israel and the Middle East.
We continue to monitor the news and are in close contact with the Springfield Police Department to ensure that we are following any recommendations made by experts. Based on the information available, we have two areas to update you on.
First, there has been an unprecedented use of social media to document the impact of war. Experts strongly recommend that parents pay close attention to their children’s social media feeds, and suggest families remove social media to minimize the possibility of children and teenagers inadvertently seeing graphic images.
Second, general warnings regarding global threats of violence have appeared on news channels and social media. Outside of those warnings, there has been no specific information related to our area. The Springfield Police Department will be more visible over the coming days, and you may see more police, but please be assured that such a presence is a proactive measure.
As I noted in my letter on Tuesday, we are continuing to monitor our students’ mental health, and ensuring that our classrooms are safe and caring environments, where every student feels welcomed and accepted. Our school counselors are well-trained in trauma and grief support and are available for our students.
We continue to encourage families to review thoughtful resources available to assist in difficult conversations. If your family is struggling with how to talk about these topics, we encourage you to reach out to your child’s counselor.
Social-Emotional Resources:
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Common Sense Media: How to Talk to Kids About Violence, Crime, and War
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Common Sense Media: Explaining the News to Our Kids
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Learning for Justice: Handle with care: Supporting young people during crises
Social Media Information:
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U.S. Health and Human Services: Social Media and Youth Mental Health
Finally, we remain deeply committed to providing a community of respect and acceptance as we work to cultivate compassionate and extraordinary learners.
We continue to hold all of those affected by this war in our hearts with the sincere hope for a peaceful resolution.
Sincerely,
Rachel Goldberg, Ed.D
Superintendent of Schools
Springfield Public Schools
973.376.1025 x1213
Cultivating compassionate and extraordinary learners!
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