December 7, 2021
Hello Woodworth Community,
Keeping an open line of communication is vitally important in maintaining and building strong partnerships. This is the reason I am sharing information with you today regarding comments made on social media.
Late last night we were made aware that a Woodworth student received a message from an unknown person that said “your school will be next tomorrow”. There was no specific threat of violence or no other information. Again, this message was sent to an individual who immediately reported it to us.
We must take all messages like this seriously and immediately contact Dearborn Police who began an investigation to determine the source and credibility of the comment. Police have determined that this was not a credible comment and there was no threat of danger to our students, staff, or school. Police have identified the student that wrote the message and investigated the intent of the message and the possibility of criminal prosecution.
Over the past week dozens of school districts in our area have had to close schools, delay instruction, or disrupt the school day due to false and misleading statements being posted on social media by students looking to take advantage of a horrific tragedy. Those found guilty of posting these types of inflammatory comments are being held accountable by school administration and law enforcement. Please talk to your child about the responsible use of social media and the very serious consequences of posting these types of messages that inflame and create more tension.
Out of an abundance of caution, and recognizing that students and staff are still working to process the very tragic events of last week, we have taken additional measures to ensure our school remains a safe place for all students. Our school has many resources available to our students and I want to make sure that our parents and students know we are here to help. If students need someone to talk to they can ask for assistance from any teacher, counselor, support staff or go directly to the office to receive support. There are also resources available online to help parents talk to their children about these types of very tragic situations. Here is a link to a document that provides parents with helpful tips on talking to your child about traumatic experiences.
We must work together to help restore calm to our community. The entire staff at Woodworth is ready and working each day to ensure the safety of your child when they are in school. We look forward to continuing to work with you to make every student feel welcome and safe while at Woodworth.
Thank you,
Nicole Rabac
Principal, Woodworth Middle School
