Message from the School President and Principal - May 25, 2022

Dear La Salle Community,

We’re writing to you today to express our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the 19 children and two teachers killed in yesterday’s senseless act of violence in Uvalde, Texas. As parents ourselves, we cannot begin to fathom the unimaginable grief the families of those who passed away must be feeling. Acts of violence like this, including the recent shootings at a place of worship in Laguna and at a grocery store in Buffalo, NY, have no place in our society and we continue to denounce these acts in the strongest means possible. On behalf of our entire La Salle College Preparatory community, we pray for comfort and healing amongst those affected by this senseless tragedy.

Please know that our Counseling Team is here to assist any students who need support during this time. We also encourage all members of our community to utilize our Care Solace resource if you need assistance and support as well. Below, we’ve included a few resources for discussing the tragedy with your children:

What to say to kids when the news is scary (NPR)

Talking with children about difficult things in the news (Fred Rogers Institute)

Helping Children with Tragic Events in the News (PBS)

Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth After the Recent Shooting (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network)

Helping Children Cope with Frightening News (Child Mind Institute)

Coping in the Aftermath of a Shooting (American Counseling Association)

15 Tips for Talking with Children about Violence (Colorín Colorado)

As school leaders, we want to assure you that La Salle College Preparatory’s highest priority is the safety and well-being of our students and our entire community. With safety at the forefront of our strategic planning and day-to-day operations, we believe it’s important to share a number of ways our school has proactively trained and prepared for active-shooter situations:

Regular Lockdown and Shelter-In-Place Drills: We conduct a number of lockdown drills over the course of the school year to ensure our students and employees are aware of the steps they need to take in case of an intruder on campus or if a threat to the school occurs.

Emergency Notification System: All faculty and staff are able to push an emergency alert from their mobile devices, in the event of an emergency situation. All La Salle families are also integrated into our emergency text, email, and voice alert system, in case we need to reach you urgently.

Perimeter Security and Continuous Improvement: La Salle is considered a closed campus, with limited access throughout the school day. We are also actively auditing our current security and safety infrastructure, to ensure the latest technology, doors, and locks are implemented on our campus.

While we pray we never have to implement any of our drills or protocols for an active shooter situation or similar threat, we must remain vigilant and prepared for any scenario that can impact the safety and security of our school and community.

Saint John Baptist de La Salle once said, “When you encounter some difficulty in the guidance of your disciples, turn to God with confidence.” In this time of sorrow and grief, we look to God for comfort and healing as we mourn with those in Uvalde. Thank you for your continued prayers, vigilance, and support.

Sincerely,

Perry Martin, M.Ed.
School President

Jamal Adams, M.Ed.
Principal