Hate Speech
This morning's message is one that is needed to address a serious matter occurring at Alvirne High School. There have been several occurrences of hate speech within our school community. According to merriam-webster.com, hate speech is defined as, "speech that is intended to insult, offend, or intimidate a person because of some trait (as race, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, or disability)". "Speech" also includes written words or symbols. These actions are unacceptable and go against our core values of Character and Community, and demonstrate a lack of respect, inclusion, and kindness that we expect all students and staff to uphold. All reported incidences of hate speech will be investigated and tracked, and disciplinary action will be taken as appropriate.
For students who have been impacted by these actions, our School Counseling Department and our Mental Health Counselor are available. Additionally, Mr. Beals and our assistant principals, Mrs. Hallas, Mr. Tesini, and Mrs. Goulet are available for students to report these incidences to.
We ask for your support in reinforcing these values. Please talk to your student(s) about the importance of respecting others and the impact words can have. Together, we can ensure that our school remains a place where every student feels valued and safe.
