Dear HM Families,
Over the course of this week, NPS building and district leaders and the superintendent have been working together to support our community and to reflect on the week’s events. Collectively, we felt it was important to share the following message as an expression of our ongoing care and learning in these difficult times.
We share outrage and horror at the Hamas-led terrorist attack against Jewish and Israeli civilians and we recognize that some families did not hear us name those events and feelings in some of our initial communications. The unspeakable acts of violence that have been committed against innocent people are an atrocity. The loss of civilian lives in this attack, and ensuing war, has caused deep and lasting trauma for so many students and families here in Newton.
As an NPS team, our messages earlier this week were intended to convey support for our Israeli and Palestinian families, our community members with ties to the region, and all those impacted by violence and war. As a part of our commitment to keeping all children safe, we will continue to listen and engage in thoughtful conversations about how best to communicate and to be responsive to our diverse community's needs.
Through all of our shared work this week, it is abundantly clear that there is a common thread to the diverse viewpoints, opinions, feedback, stories, and reflections we have heard from our NPS families and students. Everyone, regardless of background, faith, or experiences yearns for reassurance that their children are safe and their identities are honored and protected.
As Dr. Nolin has written and reaffirmed in recent remarks at the city’s forum on hate and antisemitism, please know that our educators remain steadfast in their commitment to ensuring all students are valued, respected, and supported and that our communities are free from harassment, discrimination, and hate. We will continue to work together with our district and school leadership teams to support our students.
Sincerely,
Newton Public School Principals
