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Dear Wayzata High School Students and Parents/Guardians,
As we enter another week mourning the wrongful death of George Floyd and the uncertainty that lies ahead, I want to reach out to share how we, as a school community, can come together during these trying times.
There are a range of growing emotions and outrage that many in our community are understandably experiencing and expressing right now. I understand the need for change and join the chorus of Wayzata students who are actively seeking to improve systems and structures that will challenge and overcome inequities, address areas of growth, and expand opportunities and aspirations for all within our school community. 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. If we cannot come together to recognize and honor all student experience, then we will have failed in this work. 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 still a school community of one.
What continues to be clear to me is that our students are determined not to be defined by adversity, but by a set of common values. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and in response to the racist graffiti that our school endured, students created a new narrative around student culture, emphasizing that all students belong regardless of race, class, gender or ability. We shared this narrative in a video earlier this year:
Our students continue to make it clear that they want a stronger voice in creating a more inclusive school community. One way to acknowledge this is to learn more about each other and the many diverse backgrounds and experiences that make-up our school community. The @wearewayzata Instagram page was created to begin our journey of learning more about one another. If you have Instagram, you are encouraged to follow and contribute to this account:
Our first posts will include a very small sampling of students- most of whom we were able to interview just before the COVID-19 Pandemic and distance learning began. We now need your help! All Wayzata High School students are encouraged to share their story, so we can post it and allow others to learn more about you. We are hoping to post a new story everyday.
I am looking forward to continuing this incredibly important work with you and finding new ways to ensure positive, healthy and memorable experiences for all our students here at Wayzata High School. It is my top priority to provide a supportive environment so all students feel safe and welcomed. Our entire staff is here for you now and throughout the summer.
Sincerely,
Scott Gengler
Principal
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