Dear Atkinson Families,
First of all, I would like to thank all of you for the emails of support for Atkinson GSA, due to the canceling of our Pride event. It was a difficult decision to make, but the threats on social media, by phone, and to staff member's email accounts were significant and we always strive to put the safety of our community and students first. It is sad to me that the voices of the few can outweigh the voices of the many - and thus take away an anticipated, optional, after school event from those who it meant so much to. It is my hope that as a community, we can rise above our disagreements and respect the differences that make each of us unique. Atkinson has always been a diverse community of learners who celebrate one another. I hope that we can move forward from this negative experience and rebuild the culture of trust and acceptance that we value so much.
Many of you have asked how you can help. One way that has recently come to my attention is that we should all stop "googling" this event and the people involved. Googling messes with the online algorithms and continues to highlight this week's events. I also want to reiterate that we do not condone hate and support the team decision to keep our students and staff safe. We are looking at scheduling a "town hall / info session" for parents in the coming weeks for those who are interested. In the meantime, please read THIS op-ed written by Atkinson 5th grader, Elijah Barish.
On a cheerier note, our ARTS OPEN HOUSE is coming up on Wednesday, May 24. Our music teacher, Mr. Misha, wants me to encourage everyone to attend their student's portion of the show. The more musicians who perform, the better the performance! Please keep in mind that students will not be allowed in the building without an adult. Adults must stay with their children at all times, except during performance. Thank you.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Thank you,
Beth Essex
Interim Principal
