Hi,
I am writing this email to address some of the concerns raised by parents regarding recent events at school. Unfortunately, there have been two physical altercations that have taken place at school since the beginning of the year. In both cases, staff members intervened quickly to de-escalate the situations. Police were notified and the consequences outlined in our code of conduct (attached) were applied. Today, there was a physical altercation that took place off school property and we requested the support of the Gatineau police – this remains an open investigation. It has come to our attention that these events are being discussed on a Facebook page that is not moderated by anyone at school. We are asking for support to help our school community move forward. Here are some ways that you can help:
- Encourage your child to report incidences and/or to seek support from student services or administration
- Please refrain from circulating videos of inappropriate student behaviour as this further perpetuates the negative virality of these actions
- Encourage your child to stay on school property where there is adult supervision and support
- Speak to your child about not being a bystander to these events and to not film or distribute videos of these events
Due to confidentiality, I will not disclose the details of the altercations that took place on school property and at the nearby plaza. Please know that we are working closely with the Gatineau police who are actively investigating the individuals responsible for these events.
We understand that it is stressful for families to learn about physical altercations in schools. We remain committed to the safety and security of your children and are saddened that the behaviour of a few individuals has cast a negative light on our school in recent days. There are so many positive things that take place in our building every day and we are proud to be a part of this community.