Dear New Rochelle parents and guardians,
We are horrified to have learned about a vicious act of racism in the District perpetrated on social media, involving the vilest of ethnic slurs and invective.
Videos of students, some of whom attend Albert Leonard Middle School, have been seen on platforms including Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and others using offensive racial slurs. We have the names of some of the students and we are investigating this matter.
This type of hurtful, destructive behavior is reprehensible and is certainly unacceptable anywhere in the City School District of New Rochelle. We are investigating this incident and will take the most severe action possible in response.
Every act of hatred and tolerance must be denounced in the strongest terms. This shameful incident compounds and brings closer to home the anger, pain, and frustration that we in New Rochelle, and communities around the world, are experiencing from the recent murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
In response to that horrific act, and the deep feelings it has stirred in New Rochelle, we are holding Healing Circles for middle and high school students all week, facilitated by social workers and teachers equipped to help students process these traumatic events.
I urge you to encourage your children to join the Healing Circles or to speak to a school counselor. Also, if you are experiencing any difficulty as a result of these incidents, please feel free to call our hotline (914) 336-7800.
New Rochelle is a wonderful community where we build on the strength of our diversity and we appreciate the many gifts contributed by residents of all backgrounds and ethnicities. We will not allow any incident of hate to dampen our spirits. We continue to stand together.
In partnership,
