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Dear Families,
I wanted to alert you to a growing problem of vandalism, graffiti and irresponsible behavior in our restrooms at school, particularly the restrooms on our second floor. Students are drawing and writing on the walls and flooding the toilets and urinals by stuffing them with toilet tissue and/or paper towels. These behaviors are not isolated incidents, and have happened in both boys' and girls' bathrooms upstairs and downstairs.
This behavior may have to do with a TikTok trend, "Devious Licks," which awards followers with "points" for destruction of school property, particularly in bathrooms, and for theft of teacher's belongings and classroom items.
We have spoken with and will continue to speak with classes in grades 4-6 about the breach of trust and lack of responsibility to the school community that these behaviors represent. With COVID disinfecting and cleaning protocols, our custodians are already working harder than they ever have. These behaviors are impacting students and staff on a daily basis.
Today we instituted a check-out procedure for all students to use restrooms in grades 4-6 to increase accountability. We have exhorted students who see something to say something to a teacher.
Please speak with your children about this issue at home and make sure they know these behaviors are infractions according to the Student Rights and Responsibilities handbook. Please encourage them to take an active role in reporting restroom misuse when they see it.
Thank you for your help in this matter.
Warm regards,
Diane Leipzig, Dr. L
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