To: CHS Students and Parents

From: J. Reeves, Principal

Date: 10/11/07

Re: School Safety

The latest school shooting in Ohio has once again reminded us of the importance of being observant of what our students are doing and saying in school. By all indications, the latest event had several warnings that were not reported, and the consequences are tragic.

To our parents, please stress the importance of having your child tell school personnel if he/she is aware of threats made by anyone toward the school, its students or its faculty. These could be from any source such as Face Book, text messages, notes, or conversations that are overheard. Most students do not want to “rat out” or “snitch” on another student, but as seen in Ohio, not telling can lead to a tragedy. Telling someone at school immediately also saves valuable time that can help to avert a situation. Waiting to tell a parent, or calling a parent first can cause a delay in school personnel reacting to the crisis.

To our students, your safety and the safety of your friends and teachers are much more important than any high school code that would keep you from telling what you know. Most of the situations involving school shootings could have been averted had students told what they knew. We need your help.

This also is a good time to remind everyone that due to the climate in schools today we have to take a serious approach to threats and violence whether they occur on school grounds, in the community, or on-line. Bullying and threatening others will not be tolerated. The school will take swift and strong action against persons who fail to abide by the rules.

All of us have the responsibility to keep our schools, and thereby our students, safe. It is a responsibility which Clinton High School takes seriously. We thank you for your help in this vital matter.