Principal's Newsletter 3-17-2021


Dear Burr Families;

It is devastating to hear the news of the mass shootings in Atlanta, where multiple Asian American people were killed.  While there is not much information reported yet about the killer’s motive, this tragedy in the wake of recent violence against the Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) is truly frightening for the AAPI community and all of us.  As a school community, we need to stand up against this hate, racism, and violence, and we need to stand up to support our AAPI community members. 

Last week, Dr. Fleishman sent out a newsletter addressing these concerns and sharing resources with Newton families. Here at Burr, the staff and I have thought deeply about the impact of anti-Asian racism on our students and families. We know that our community is not free from this hatred.  Many of our AAPI students have shared their fear of being targeted either verbally or physically. We recognize that children are never too young to begin to learn the harm that comes with acts of racism and unfair targeting of a group or person. We will continue to address these topics through our new anti-racism curriculum and through work with our school mission statement and core values.  

I invite you to learn more about how we can take action, stop the violence, and address racism against Asian and Asian American communities.  The following is a list of resources for your reference to compliment those shared by Dr. Fleishman:

· Addressing Anti-Asian Racism with Students

· Speaking Up Against Racism Around the New Coronavirus

· How to Respond to Coronavirus Racism

· Self-care tips for Asian Americans Dealing with Racism and Coronavirus

· Ways to Support Asian American Students During the Pandemic

I’d like to remind families that on March 25, Burr FORJ will facilitate a book discussion on So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo. I hope many of you decide to participate. Registration information can be found on the Burr PTO website. 

I want our AAPI community to know that you have my full support. The Burr staff and I are here for all of you. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us. 

Best, 

Mindy Johal, Principal

Burr Elementary School



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