Happy 2022! The Badger staff and administration wish you and your family a very healthy and happy 2022.
Badger students are in preparation mode for Semester I exams that will take place January 19-21. Remember that exam days are different. Here are the times and periods of testing each day of exams:
- Wednesday, January 19
- Periods 1, 3, 5 will test.
- School is dismissed at 1:24 pm.
- Students are welcome to stay later to study in the library or touch base with their teachers, but the buses will leave shortly after the 1:24 pm dismissal.
- Lunch will be provided.
- Thursday, January 20
- Periods 2, 4, 6 will test.
- School dismissal is at 1:24 pm, same as Wednesday.
- Students are welcome to stay later to study in the library or touch base with their teachers, but the buses will leave shortly after the 1:24 pm dismissal.
- Lunch will be provided.
- Friday, January 21
- Periods 7 and 8 will test.
- School dismissal is 11:06 am.
- Lunch is NOT provided on this day.
Students are involved in winter sports, the winter play, and a host of clubs and activities. Watch your email and future newsletters for dates and times for all the events.
I also want to address the threat hoax the Badger family experienced on December 17. This is an excerpt of my address to students on Monday, December, 20:
Last Friday, our Badger family was the target of a hoax threat. The person receiving the threat did the right thing and made sure administration and law enforcement was informed. Law Enforcement worked diligently to uncover this hoax.
What happened next, the posting and reposting of false information on social media sparked concern and fear across our Badger family. Because the hoax threat was passed around, it became larger and larger and larger. The reposting of faulty information created an atmosphere of panic that can do real harm. This does not make the situation safer, in fact, it makes it less safe. Now, talking in person with parents/guardians/staff and alerting people who can determine legitimacy of the threat is something we can all do.
The situation was magnified by TikTok promoting a challenge for national school violence on Friday. What is the counter to such a terrible request? - an opposite challenge. Do no harm, post kindness, alert authorities when you see something threatening online, and stop the reposting reaction without first checking if it is accurate.
So, how do we work as a community moving forward? The FBI gives some sage advice when it comes to what to do if you see a threat of violence posted online: Immediately contact local law enforcement (in school this could also be administration or teachers/staff). They recommend that we do not share or forward the threat until authorities have had a chance to investigate. Reposting this information can spread misinformation and cause panic.
I concluded my announcement acknowledging that this hoax threat did harm to us and offered support should students need it. It is unfortunate that social media would choose to create an environment where threats are allowed, but through our communication with each other, we can help stem the spread of false information.
I wanted to share with you the FBI website to help you navigate how to address social media postings with your teens. We all need support to respond to this uncharted territory. Hoax-threats-awareness-100518
There is so much good at Badger that cannot be overshadowed by one action. The positivity at Badger is evident from Student Council’s very successful Blood Drive to the DECA holiday drive that helped families throughout our community. Badger is a truly great place to be and we look forward to a healthy and productive second semester.
Be well,
Jenny Straus
