October 26, 2022

Dear Roslyn Parents,

One of the most important decisions that your child will make in their lifetime is to not use drugs. As educators, we strive to reinforce this message repeatedly in our classrooms throughout their K-12 years.

As many of you are aware, there is a powerful drug called Fentanyl that has become the most dangerous illegal drug and primary driver of overdose deaths in the United States. Fentanyl has become easily available via social media and is often laced into other drugs, like cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and pills. Just a few grains of dosing can make the difference between life and death.

This morning, our joint middle school and high school PFA meeting agenda included the screening of a short documentary about the dangers of Fentanyl, recommended by the Nassau County Police Department. This video is powerful and will give you great insight into the crisis we are facing. I strongly encourage everyone receiving this communication to set aside twenty minutes to watch it. If you feel that your child has the maturity to handle it, I encourage you to watch it again with them. You can access it on YouTube with the following link: Dead on Arrival

As your Superintendent, I feel that it is the collective responsibility of educators and parents to warn our children about the dangers of this deadly drug. Mandatory assemblies on this topic are planned for secondary students (6-12) in the coming weeks. They will be hosted by the Nassau County Police Department Narcotics Division and Dr. Stephen Dewey, who will discuss the effects of addictive substances. Elementary level assemblies are also planned for the spring of 2023.

Please educate yourself and sit down with them to explain what this drug does to their bodies and how easily it can kill them. I never want any families in our district to have to experience the crushing pain of losing a child to this horrific drug. Let’s work together to make sure that your child knows that if they are having a hard time dealing with anything in their lives, they should approach a trusted adult at home or in our schools.

Sincerely,

Allison Brown

Superintendent of Schools