Rumors about some kind of threat to Yorktown High School have been making the rounds, propelled by social media. School personnel and police have found no dangers to public safety, and the school administration has sent out the following letter:
December 20, 2012
Dear Parents,
I hope that this email finds you and your families well. A rumor regarding a threat at the high school began circulating around the high school yesterday. As is always our protocol, we follow up and investigate every rumor to ensure that there is no truth or validity. After a thorough investigation that included the Principal, Assistant Principals, Student Resource Officer (SRO), it was concluded yesterday that the rumors were untrue and unfounded.
Unfortunately, through social media, the rumor has circulated further throughout the school community today. Once again, we reconfirmed today what we determined yesterday with school administration and representatives from the Yorktown Police department. Again, there is no truth or accuracy to the rumor.
While I was hesitant to share this correspondence with you, I understand how everyone’s fear and anxiety levels are heightened after the tragic event of the last week. Please know that we continue to do everything that we can to ensure the safety of every single child and adult in the district. We always have, and always will, pay close attention to issues like these. Safety and security remain our top priorities. If there is truly a concern, then children should speak with responsible adults, whether parents, teachers, counselors, or others in trusted positions.
I implore you to help us dispel hurtful rumors that take us away from our primary responsibilities, which are to maximize individual potential by:
o Empowering students with the skill, knowledge and values to become responsible, productive contributors to society.
o Ensuring a safe and nurturing environment that promotes higher level thinking, communication and creativity.
o Challenging the learner to achieve personal excellence.
o Promoting respect for oneself and others, and understanding of individual differences.
Once more, I take this opportunity to wish you and all your loved ones a blessed season and a great new year.
Sincerely,
Dr. Ralph Napolitano
