[Superintendent's Update] Superintendent's Update

[Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update]

Dear NPS Families:

I am writing to you about the tragic events unfolding this evening in
Uvalde, Texas, where a school shooting occurred in an elementary school
resulting in multiple deaths.  This horror falls on the heels of the terror
inflicted on the Black community in Buffalo where ten people were shot and
killed and the shooting rampage in a California Taiwanese church
congregation.

Like you, I am sick about the frequency of these events across our country,
and I understand the anxiety that many of our students, staff, and families
may be experiencing as a result of learning about these mass shootings.

I want to assure you that the health and safety of our students and staff
is our *Number One* priority in the Needham Public Schools, and while we
can never guarantee there will never be a violent event in our schools, the
principals and staff work each day to prioritize student wellbeing and
security.

• Tomorrow morning the Needham Police will maintain a low key presence
around our schools, and our School Resource Officers will make themselves
available to check in with staff and students as necessary.

• We continue to partner with Needham Public Safety partners and local
officials throughout the school year, and each of our schools this year has
experienced an armed intruder drill based on the ALICE protocol
<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SOVH_1h5NDWrwJtLAAlhonBbHO8p5Lav95Y6IkdzvEw/edit?usp=sharing>
. The goal is to utilize infrastructure, technology, and human action to
increase overall student and staff safety.

• Building principals will provide developmentally appropriate resources
for teachers and staff to help students process these events should
students raise questions about these shootings or have concerns for their
safety. Counselors will be available for students who may need to process
the news.

Please reassure your children that school is a safe place and that we have
many safety protocols in place to protect them.  Our staff will continue to
work closely with our students and families when they are experiencing
difficult situations, and we always encourage all members of our
community  to speak up when they have a concern.

Finally, please join me in offering prayers to the families of the victims
of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Texas and all the innocent
victims who succumb to senseless gun violence too often in our nation.

Respectfully,

Dan Gutekanst
Superintendent of Schools
Needham Public Schools
1330 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA 02492
*He/His/Him*
781-455-0400 x11203
dan_gutekanst at needham.k12.ma.us

ATTENTION: If you speak a language other than English, language assistance
services are available to you free of charge. Contact your child’s school
for assistance.

Chinese (Simplified): 请注意：如果您的母语不是英语，我们将免费提供您语言辅助服务。如需协助，请与您孩子 的学校联系。

Spanish: ATENCION: Si usted habla un idioma que no sea el inglés, hay
servicios de asistencia lingüística disponibles gratis. Contacte la escuela
de su hijo para asistencia.

Russian: ВНИМАНИЕ: Если вы не говорите на английском языке, для вас
доступны бесплатные языковые сервисы на вашем языке. Обратитесь за помощью
в школу, в которой учится ваш ребенок.
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