May 26, 2022
Good afternoon West Shore students, staff, and families,
Like you, we are heartbroken over the events which took place at Robb Elementary School and grieve with the families of the victims and the Uvalde community.
In addition to grief, tragic events can also be accompanied by sadness, depression, and other feelings that may elicit fear or anxiety. As you navigate conversations about the events occurring nationally and closer to home, I wanted to make sure you have the following resources at your fingertips.
From the District Website:
Resources for Mental Health, Well-Being, and Dealing With Tragedy
This page includes information about the District's new partner
Care Solace which assists individuals in finding mental health care providers and substance use treatment centers. Their services may be accessed at no cost to you, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, and 365 days per year.
In addition to these online resources, our counselors are available for anyone in need.
If you, or someone you know, needs additional assistance, please reach out to a school counselor or administrator.
School Safety
Although tragic events raise heightened awareness, we routinely assess risks, evaluate our protocols, conduct a variety of drills, and partner with local law enforcement to protect against any potential threats. A critical part of our ability to ensure everyone’s safety is reporting and sharing suspicious activity or information that may be of concern. As you’re going about your day, if you see something that doesn't seem quite right, say something. There are numerous ways to report concerns to school officials, including our S.O.S. Hotline, the Safe2Say Something Tipline, or by contacting law enforcement directly. Our best defense against potential threats is to identify them early.
S.O.S. Hotline
Phone: 717-932-1840
Safe2Say Something
As you may also be aware, on April 19, the District held a special Board meeting for the purpose of discussing school safety. During the meeting, I presented information about School Security Guards, School Police Officers, and School Resource Officers. If interested, that presentation can be viewed online (
click here). The meeting discussion can also be viewed online along with all our Board meetings at:
https://video.ibm.com/channel/west-shore-school-district-board-meeting
Following any tragedy, we think immediately of our own children and loved ones and their safety. I share your concerns and want you to know we remain committed to providing a safe and secure learning environment for all of our students and staff. The safety and welfare of our school community is our highest priority.
I hope you are able to enjoy time with your family and friends over the holiday weekend. As you do, please keep those impacted by the horrible events of the past week in your thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely,
Todd B. Stoltz, Ed.D.
Superintendent
#WestShoreProud