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High School Families,
I am writing to provide an update on today's activities. First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude to each and every one of you for your support, patience, and understanding throughout the past few days. Our commitment to the safety and well-being of our students and staff remains unwavering.
I am pleased to report that today was a smooth and successful day. The hallways were calm, students demonstrated respect, and our staff were attentive, ensuring that everything ran smoothly. It was a testament to the resilience and maturity of our school community.
I want to extend my appreciation to the St. Louis Park Police Department for their partnership and the extra presence on our campus. Their collaboration with us has been invaluable, and we are grateful for their ongoing support in maintaining a safe school environment. Tomorrow we will continue to have additional police presence inside and outside of the high school.
As we embark on finals week, it is essential to remember that our primary focus is to help our students feel safe, prepared, and ready to excel academically. We are dedicated to continuing our efforts to create a positive and secure learning environment for all.
I want to reiterate that the safest place for students is in the classroom focused on learning. It is our collective responsibility as staff, parents and caregivers, and students to consistently adhere to the practices we know work to support student academic and behavior success. After the finals block schedule concludes at the end of the week, we will return to our regular schedule and routines. We ask adults to review these important expectations outlined in our student handbook to ensure students are attentive to them for the remainder of the school year:
- Be in class on time and stay focused on learning.
- Student IDs must be readily available at all times.
- Every student in the hallway during class time must have a pass, no exceptions.
- Plan bathroom breaks during passing time.
- Eat during your assigned lunch time and go to class directly after lunch.
- All students, staff, and visitors must use Door 1 during school hours, which is monitored throughout the day.
- If you see or hear about a potential safety concern, share it with an adult.
- Responsible use of cell phones, for example in a backpack, purse, or pocket.
- When a safety incident does occur, students should remain in classrooms and keep a safe distance rather than gathering in hallways, obstructing the response, or filming.
I appreciate the messages I’ve received from parents who expressed care and support of our school community throughout this situation. I also want to acknowledge the concerns of some parents who felt our actions were not severe enough. I understand Dr. Kate Maguie, interim superintendent, will share remarks about the state of school safety at this Tuesday’s 6:30 p.m. school board meeting, which you are welcome to attend or watch live on Youtube.
Thank you once again for your unwavering support, and we look forward to a successful and productive finals week.
Sincerely,
LaNisha Paddock
Principal
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