Thursday, December 22, 2022
Wednesday, December 21, 2022
Graffiti Found in Classroom
December 21, 2022
Dear Uxbridge Families, Students, and Extended Community:
On Wednesday, December 21, 2022, our school administration became notified of a swastika that was carved into a surface in a classroom. Unfortunately, this is the second time we have dealt with this sort of situation this year, and the timing and lack of specificity on when it may have first appeared - given that it was first reported or noticed today - has proven the investigation to be inconclusive.
While we have already worked to mitigate the vandalism, this act, which we believe has no direct connection to the graffiti discovered on November 7, is a reminder of the difficult work we have in this community, given the variety of biases and prejudicial attitudes that some people hold. Sometimes these symbols are etched purely for shock value and without a clear nexus to hate, but other times they provide a very clear connection to someone who is harboring truly hateful opinions and views of others. It is clear that we have much to do to continue to educate our students on the meaning behind these symbols; it is also obvious that eliminating these from our society has become even more complex over the past several years with the rise across the country in incidents of hate speech, anti-Semitism, and other forms of bigotry. We are neither immune nor blind to those here in Uxbridge.
It is in our Declaration of Independence that all are created equal, and we strive for a school environment that preserves and protects everyone’s dignity and where we hold ourselves and others to high standards of empathy, compassion, respect, and personal integrity. With our students and families, we share responsibility for building and maintaining a supportive community.
Sincerely,
Mike Baldassarre Karen Dwyer Mike Rubin
Interim Superintendent Assistant Superintendent UHS Principal