 Dear Bonnie Brae Families,
As I sit and ponder over the recent events in our country, like many of you, I am brought to tears and real sadness. Racism and inequity must be addressed if we want a better future for all of our children. As FCPS Superintendent, Dr. Brabrand shared, “Racism and hate have no place in FCPS. FCPS is a place where we strive for love, inclusiveness, and compassion for all while providing hope for the future.” Bonnie Brae will continue to stand on those values. Together, we can, and we will make a difference.
At Bonnie Brae, we will continue to challenge our norms and practices. We will continue to listen to each other’s stories, to hear the perspectives of our staff, students and their families. We will build relationships that embrace and celebrate our individuality and diversity. We are committed to teaching our young students how to be compassionate and brave individuals who respect and honor differences. We will foster open hearts and open minds. We believe, “I, You, We Matter.”
We have heard from many of you who are hurting and disappointed and not sure how to share the news with your children. Some of you are even wondering if you should share at all. We recognize that while the recent events may be visible to our children, these acts are not new and the societal response can shift thinking. We also recognize that pain, fear, confusion and anger are natural emotions that accompany such images and lead our children to ask questions. These questions may be difficult to answer at times.
If you and/or your children need support with talking about the recent events, I have added a few resources below. As always, our school mental health team and administrators are also available if you need additional support. We don’t have the answers yet. We can promise that we will continue to work together to teach, love and honor our differences and acknowledge that it’s those differences that make us stronger and better as a school community.
Children’s Books:
https://www.embracerace.org/resources/26-childrens-books-to-support-conversations-on-race-racism-resistance
Talking Tips:
https://www.embracerace.org/resources/young-kids-racial-injustice
Teaching Tolerance, Critical Practices for Anti-Bias Education:
https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/publications/critical-practices-for-antibias-education
American School Counseling Association Race and Equity Resources:
https://www.schoolcounselor.org/school-counselors/professional-development/learn-more/race-and-equity-resources
Sincerely,
Mrs. Cage, Principal
Mrs. Bennink, Assistant Principal
Mrs. Killingsworth, Assistant Principal
All the information you need to join in on the meeting is below. Thanks in advance for your participation.
Topic: BBES June PTO Meeting
Time: Jun 4, 2020 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/75008139919?pwd=NHZFdGQ2WStxNW5memxxYXFnbXVmUT09
Meeting ID: 750 0813 9919
Password: 3qRXpS
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