In light of the events in Ohio last week, I thought I would  share my thoughts on the subject. It is unimaginable how a school shooting might impact a school and the community. When I hear of these tragedies, I try to imagine what it would be like to live through them.  I find myself asking, could this have been prevented?
 
The perpetrator has been described as not fitting into any peer group. Some have reported that he may have been bullied. Research conducted following Columbine indicates that, of the 37 premeditated school shootings, two-thirds of the perpetrators reported that being bullied played a major role in their decision to commit the crime.
 

Know that members of the Brookwood staff are vigilant and trained to identify and report bullying.  But, the more members of the community we have looking out for those who threaten students, the more incidents we can prevent.
 
In the case of the Ohio shootings, there are reports of texts and posts made by the gunman prior to the crime. Oftentimes, teenagers are reluctant to report these types of messages to adults for fear of being labeled a "snitch" or for fear that they are overreacting. Please talk to your children about the fact that these threats are usually a cry for help and the person wants to be stopped. 
 

Parents, staff, and students alike are eager to prevent bullying and other threatening behaviors. If you or your child hears any rumors of this sort, please contact the school immediately by calling any office. We have a confidential 24 hour hotline number (770-822-6513) for those who want to remain anonymous. 

Sincerely,
 

Cary