May 25, 2022
Dear Lyons Township High School Staff, Students and Families,
In the coming days, the LT school community will celebrate our graduates from the Class of 2022, bring a close to the 2021-22 academic year, and cheer along as our activities and athletic programs compete in the remaining IHSA state playoff series’, before enjoying some much-deserved rest this summer.
All of this will occur against a backdrop of continued tragic and senseless gun violence in our nation. Within the last three weeks alone, our nation has witnessed mass shootings in Buffalo, NY, Orange County, CA, and Uvalde, TX, that have claimed innocent lives and destroyed communities. In the wake of these events, we often use terms like senseless, thoughts, prayers, and tragedy in our attempt to explain the unexplainable. More importantly, we seek answers for why it happens, how we can prevent it from happening again, and how best to support those most closely affected.
From a practical perspective, tragedies like this, specifically those that occur in schools, remind us of the importance of regularly reviewing, updating, and familiarizing ourselves with emergency planning procedures. Emergency plans in schools are complex documents and procedures, developed with police and fire personnel input, that are designed to provide guidance for various types of school emergencies. Part of this review also includes examining the social and emotional instruction and mental health and crisis-based resources and supports available within our school. We will continue to communicate resources via our website and through communication to students and families. While this school year is coming to an end, we will have a school counselor available during summer school hours (8:00am - 12:30pm daily from 6/6 - 7/15/22) should any student or family need support or links to resources. Please contact 708-579-6300 to be connected to a counselor during the summer term.
Resources and planning aside, we must never underestimate the critical role everyone plays in connecting with those around us. Even in tragic times, we can find comfort in our ability to come together as a unified community. We all share a responsibility in maintaining a positive learning community and one that supports and values all members. Through our interactions, we build confidence, create hope, eliminate hate and fear, instill self-worth, and influence our community...one human at a time.
And, of course, we learn in our classrooms, confront our struggles, and celebrate our successes with a heavy heart as we reflect on all who are impacted by the gun violence that affects our nation each and every day.
Dr. Brian Waterman
Superintendent
