To our Lafayette Community,
The Lafayette Home and School Association (HSA) is aware of and appalled by the disrespectful and harmful treatment one of our teachers experienced last weekend as a result of the words and behavior of someone who lives nearby to the school but is not a Lafayette parent. The teacher, who came to the school outside of school hours as a spectator to support our kids, deserves our support and appreciation as a valued member of the community.
The HSA is appalled to hear about this incident. As an organization of family and community members, we unequivocally denounce this behavior as this sentiment has no place in our community. In spite of the abhorrent language and actions on the part of the neighbor, we are proud of the many Lafayette families who were there and who took immediate, authentic action to protect, uplift, and support our teacher through the experience. These parents and caregivers showed up and led by example, displaying the values of Lafayette.
Among the core values enumerated by Principal Prall at the start of the school year are Equity and Anti-Racism and A Sense of Belonging. The HSA stands firmly behind these values that promote a sense of belonging on and off the Lafayette campus and, to this end, we invite community members to explore the work of the HSA Belonging Committee. The Belonging Committee webpage has examples of easy things that we can each do, from stepping out of autopilot when issuing birthday and playdate invitations to greeting new faces on campus. The site also provides resources for how to talk to your children about race, ethnicity, bullying, diversity, and more.
As the HSA, we want to reaffirm our commitment to building a community where diversity thrives, where equity is assured, and where inclusion is experienced on a daily basis. We have a diverse set of opinions and viewpoints, and all should be in service of the equity and inclusion principles shared by Principal Prall and the Lafayette administration. We encourage everyone to continue the open dialogue on ways to further these principles, and will work closely with the school to provide open forums to do so.
