December 3, 2021

GATE families,

This has been quite a week. The Oxford High School shooting and subsequent threats have brought shock, concern, stress, worry and anxiety to our lives. Thank you for your understanding and support as we cancelled school on Thursday and Friday out of caution. Thankfully, the threats were fully investigated and were not credible.

Although school has been closed Thursday and Friday, you should know that your children have been the first and foremost on our minds. Thursday the Crisis Team and Administrators met and made plans to support our community. Friday all Avondale staff participated in district-wide safety training refreshers and had time in their classrooms to prepare for Monday.

I am in awe of our community and how we have come together to support those in Oxford and within our Avondale district. Being part of a tight-knit community in Avondale and at GATE is a blessing to us as we move forward.

The district has shared multiple, research-based resources for talking with your children about gun violence in schools, and has shared contact information to communicate with our social workers and counselors if needed. The Oakland County Sherriff's Office has also shared communication about making sure we are cognizant regarding our posts on social media. We should only share verified facts, not hearsay or rumors. If there is something concerning that you hear, then you should share it with authorities, not on social media.

The amazing GATE staff and I are ready to welcome your student back to school on Monday to a safe and supportive environment. In the meantime, please have a restful weekend.

Kate Martin

Principal

Suggestions for talking to your children:

1. What do they already know? Start the conversation and ask: "Have you heard about anything that has happened at Oxford High School?" "What do you know about it?"

2. Gently correct inaccurate information and explain what happened in basic terms. Take time to provide the correct information in simple, clear language.

3. Encourage questions. Your child may have some difficult questions about the incident. For example, she may ask if it is possible that it could happen at GATE or anywhere in Avondale; she is probably really asking whether it is “likely.” The concern about re-occurrence will be an issue for caregivers and children/teens alike. While it is important to discuss the likelihood of this risk, she is also asking if she is safe. This may be a time to review plans your family has for keeping safe in the event of any crisis situation. Do give any information you have on the help and support the victims and their families are receiving. Like adults, children/teens are better able to cope with a difficult situation when they have the facts about it. Having question-and-answer talks gives your child ongoing support as he or she begins to cope with the range of emotions stirred up by this tragedy. Reassure them be sharing all of the safety measures the school and district has in place to help keep them secure at school. *Adapted from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network

Other reminders to consider:

• Limit media coverage

• Be patient

• Seek extra help if needed

Thinking about during the school day:

Students will have different levels of knowledge surrounding the Oxford HS incident.

• • If your child knows a lot or a little: Consider reminding them to be aware of what they are saying around other students, especially if they are in elementary grades. While they might know a lot, a classmate might not know as much, if anything. Remind them that everyone has different needs based on their family's choices and their situation. It also might upset other students if they bring it up to discuss, particularly in lower grades.

  • If your child doesn't know anything: Please know if you have made the family choice not to discuss the incident at all with your child, they may overhear it from another student. While teachers are not bringing it up for class conversation, it would be impossible for them to monitor every conversation students are having individually.

Next steps to move forward:

• My morning announcements on Monday will be that of reassurance and welcoming.

• Both Ms. Brooks and I will be available "on call" for any student needs this coming week and will jump in and help the teachers or students if difficult conversations or situations arise.

• I will record a refresher for school drills that students will watch during their morning meeting time for later in the week. (Likely Wednesday or Thursday) It will be very basic and straightforward and include everything the students should already know.

• We will NOT do a lockdown or evacuation drill within the next couple of weeks so we don't increase or trigger any trauma (we've already done 2 lockdown drills so far this year).

• We WILL do an evacuation drill in the Spring, and will continue our schedule of all other required, routine drills.

Lastly...

Thank a teacher. They are the front-line heroes that support your children and are here because they love teaching and love students, in the best of times and the worst of times.

GATE NJHS Fall/Winter Kits will be sold on THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9th from 3:00-4:00pm. There will be tables set up between the GATE playgrounds. Please park and walk up to pay (cash only) if you're interested in purchasing one!

This week's news!

If your child is scheduled to be on the morning announcements (click <---- to see list and jobs), please help them prepare for their part so they are ready to go when we record. Thanks!

The sign up for the Morning News Crew is closed. If your child is interested, you can add them to the waitlist on this document.

kate.martin@avondaleschools.org Kate Martin, Principal

raelynn.buczkowski@avondaleschools.org Raelynn Brookes, Social Work

jennifer.spencer@avondaleschools.org Jennifer Spencer, Learning Resource

edith.mccoy@avondaleschools.org Edith McCoy, Secretary

heidi.heil@avondaleschools.org Heidi Heil, STEAM/PLTW

Amanda.Merrill@avondaleschools.org Amanda Merrill, 2/3

jillian.porterfield@avondaleschools.org Jillian Porterfield, 2/3

lisa.momblanco@avondaleschools.org Lisa Momblanco, 2/3

laurie.waterhouse@avondaleschools.org Laurie Waterhouse, 4/5

erica.burmann@avondaleschools.org Erica Burmann, 4/5

elizabeth.lowe@avondaleschools.org Lisa Lowe, Art/Drama

rachel.breeden@avondaleschools.org Rachel Breeden, 6/7/8

michael.bigelow@avondaleschools.org Mike Bigelow, 6/7/8

michelle.gierman@avondaleschools.org Michelle Gierman, 4/5

megan.zimmerman@avondaleschools.org Megan Zimmerman, 4/5

joel.tossey@avondaleschools.org Joel Tossey, PE/HEALTH

megan.sroka@avondaleschools.org Megan Sroka, 6/7/8

hannah.syme@avondaleschools.org Hannah Syme, Spanish