A Message from the Superintendent
October 10, 2023
Dear Winnetka Families and Staff,
I am writing to you this afternoon out of concern and support for our community, and those among us impacted by the conflict playing out in Israel over the last several days. While Israel may seem a great distance from us, we are part of a more expansive community with many students, staff and families who are grieving and afraid in light of this news. It is important for us to recognize that these events are deeply distressing and on the minds of many as we continue to move through our school days. We are dedicated to providing care to any members of our school community who may need additional help processing what is occuring. As a district committed to building a culture of belonging, it is also important to make clear that our community stands against the antisemitism and Islamophobia that could arise amid this escalating conflict.
As students may want to discuss these events, our teachers, SEL coaches, psychologists, and social workers are supportive resources readily available to be a trusted and safe adult at school. Please reach out to us if you feel your child would benefit from additional support.
If your child has access to a social media account, we highly encourage you to closely monitor their use over the course of this conflict. It is possible to be exposed to images or videos that may be particularly distressing for children. Below are two digital resources that provide guidance for parents on how to talk to your children about tragic events.
How to Talk With Kids About Tragedies & Other Traumatic News Events
Additionally, Text-for-Help (formerly known as Text-A-Tip) is a resource tailored for teens and pre-teens, but is open to all members of the Winnetka community, including staff. A concerned person can text “D36Help” to 814-823-5323 and be connected by text message with a licensed social worker within approximately 3 minutes. While we encourage students, staff and families to report concerns within our schools, allowing us to follow our internal safety protocol, we also want to ensure there is awareness of this reporting option outside of school hours.
While no words can express the sadness we feel for those impacted by the violence playing out overseas, we stand ready to provide for anyone within our community who may need our support.
Most Sincerely,
Dr. Kelly Tess
Superintendent of Schools