THOUGHTS FROM OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL, JOSEPH VORBACH:
A week during which school safety and security was elevated to our collective attention is coming to a close. As it does, I express my gratitude to the students, parents and members of the team at the school who reached out to me and other administrators when the learned of a possible threat to safety and security at the school. I express further my gratitude to the Arlington County Police Department who, as they always are, were immediately responsive to our need for support and who helped us quickly clarify the circumstances such that we could have school on Tuesday. I thank the team at the school who helped our students on Tuesday. I am grateful to parents I've had the opportunity to speak with over the course of the week. Those conversations have been very important to me. Most profoundly, they highlighted the immeasurable unconditional love of a parent for their child -- even just typing this has me daydreaming about the blessing of my two children. The calls have also been an opportunity to discuss the challenges parents face in simultaneously protecting their children as they prepare them for adulthood. The calls have also been constructive as different ideas and perspectives have been shared and I have been grateful to receive them. Finally, they have been spiritually uplifting because of the constant offers of prayers for all impacted by the events of the week. These offers of prayer are reminders of God's presence in our lives and they served as calls on me to seek His guidance.
As suggested in my communications during the week, we have already made adjustments to some of our policies and procedures since Monday evening. We will continue to evaluate these policies and procedures, in consultation with the Police Department and the Diocese, and will be alert to both other short term adjustments, as well as longer term investments that will enhance our overall security posture.
I want to conclude by returning to our focus on the safety and security of your children. It was our paramount concern as we worked through this matter and it is always our first concern.
On a few lighter notes, let me encourage you to:
1. Ask your child(ren) about today's Black History Assembly, including about the special visitor
2. Consider heading out to Broadway Desserts on Sunday at 2 PM (Saturday is sold out, but there will be a limited number of tickets at the door available on Sunday--use Door #8). This show is always a real treat.