Dear Wayzata High Students and Parents,
I am sure you are all as saddened and troubled as I am by the tragic death of George Floyd and the resulting events that are now unfolding nearby. There are, no doubt, a range of emotions that many in our community are experiencing. In light of this tragedy, I wanted to reach out and remind you that we care deeply about the health, safety and well-being of all our students and staff. Our strength as a school community comes from the diversity of all ideas, beliefs, and backgrounds and our collective ability to navigate challenging times together as a community.
Under a traditional school setting, we do all we can to support and keep our students and staff safe here at school. This will not change when we are teaching and learning from a distance. It has been an incredibly challenging year, to say the least. Our students, staff, and school community as a whole have experienced a number of disheartened and deeply disappointing events this year—from racist graffiti, to overcoming the challenges of distance learning and all the lost milestone events that followed. As we experience yet another tragedy together, we are committed to promoting a culture of kindness, belonging and mutual respect. As I said before, what affects one aspect of our school community affects us all; we may be a school of 3,700 students, but we are a school community of one.
It is my top priority to provide a supportive environment so all students feel safe, even from a distance. As always, our entire staff is here for you. The added challenge of having meaningful conversations with peers, teachers and loved ones regarding the events in Minneapolis during this pandemic is something we acknowledge. Please reach out if you need additional support today or in the future. You are welcome to schedule an appointment with a member of your Student Support Team via Acuity. You may also email any staff member directly.
I'm always here to listen to your thoughts and concerns as well. Please do not hesitate to contact me directly at Scott.Gengler@wayzataschools.org.
Sincerely, Scott Gengler Principal |