Dear RCDS Families,
We were outraged and deeply saddened by the latest act of violence and intolerance this past weekend at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. It is one more heinous crime that follows a series of hateful acts across our country, including the mass shootings in the Kentucky supermarket, Las Vegas concert, Parkland HS in Florida, the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, - and sadly too many other acts of hatred and violence that seem to be proliferating. What happened in Pittsburgh is the latest disturbing reminder that we as a society still have a great deal of work to do to ensure that everyone in our country can safely and freely worship, attend school, and live their lives without fear of hate, bigotry, and violence.
Once again, during challenging times like this, we as a school community need to come together in unity to support one another and reassure our students that school is a safe, respectful, and comfortable place for everyone - people of all races, religions, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, ages, abilities, and socio-economic status. The diversity of our community is the strength of our community, and it enriches the experiences of everyone. This is a message that will be communicated and discussed in age-appropriate ways at RCDS in the days ahead as we support our students and they support each other. We ask that parents take the time and find ways to reinforce this important message at home, as well.
The counselors, principals, deans, advisors, and Director of Diversity and Inclusion Ali Morgan are all available to support individual students and families. Please do not hesitate to reach out to any of us during these difficult and challenging days.
Scott Nelson
Headmaster