Subject: Important Message from the Head of School
From: "Bryan Garman" <[email-masked]>
To: "R. Hunter Biden" <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2016 11:00:09 -0400

Friday, September 30, 2016

		

		 
			
				Dear Friends,Last spring, following reports that a sexual assault had occurred on campus, I pledged that Sidwell Friends would undertake a comprehensive review of policies and procedures to improve our students&rsquo; safety and security. I announced that we would inspect the physical plant and make necessary modifications; that we would hire Linda Johnson, a nationally renowned expert, to review our policies and ensure that they complied with best practices in education; and that we would assess the suitability of our health curriculum in light of changing expectations about sexuality. I also promised to report back to you at the conclusion of this process. While we will undoubtedly continue to look for other areas of improvement, I am pleased to report that many positive changes have already been instituted.First, as noted in my June letter, we have undertaken a review of the campus and have improved safety by upgrading the lighting in targeted areas, increasing security patrols, and ensuring that spaces are appropriately secured.Second, we have completed the policy review. The Board of Trustees has been fully briefed by Linda Johnson, who attended our September meeting and outlined the rationale for her recommendations. In response to her report, the School has made several important changes to the Community Handbook, which (along with the Sidwell Friends Directory) is being distributed today in school to your youngest child. As always, Quaker values remain the foundation of the handbook, and the Honor Code serves as the touchstone for expectations in Upper School. The previous handbook already addressed subjects such as locker searches, harassment, and acceptable use of technology, but we have revised, expanded, and clarified policies pertaining to these topics. The most extensive changes can be found on pages 18&shy;&shy;&ndash;20.The following policies, summarized here, have been updated. Many of the key changes are denoted in this letter, but I encourage you to review, as appropriate, the handbook with your children so that they too understand relevant new provisions. If you have any questions or concerns about the handbook changes, please contact your child&rsquo;s principal, Associate Head of School Ellis Turner, or me.Search Policy: The School may search lockers, personal belongings, and motor vehicles if a member of the faculty or administration has reason to believe that any prohibited items, including drugs, drug paraphernalia, alcohol, weapons, or stolen property, may be found or if a disciplinary infraction may have occurred. This policy extends to permit searches of all electronic devices, including those personally owned by students, such as smart phones, tablets, laptops, and flash drives.Harassment and Sexual Assault Policy: Harassment by any means, whether verbal, written, or on social media, is prohibited. This includes not only sexual harassment but also harassment based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military service, veteran status, age, ancestry, genetic information, disability, or any other category protected by law. Further, retaliation against anyone who has complained of harassment or who cooperates with an investigation will not be tolerated.Our harassment policy encompasses bullying, defined as unwanted, aggressive behavior by any student or students against another. Examples include making threats, spreading rumors, and attacking someone physically or verbally.Sexual harassment means unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other conduct of a sexual nature and includes coercing someone into submitting to sexual conduct.No adverse action will be taken against any student who, in good faith, reports harassment or sexual misconduct of any sort. The School expects any student who witnesses or has knowledge that a sexual assault has occurred or is occurring to take action by notifying an adult of the assault. Any student found to have engaged in sexual misconduct is subject to disciplinary action, including expulsion.Responsible Use of Technology: In addition to the cautions included in previous editions of the handbook, students should be aware that possessing and transmitting sexually explicit images of themselves or anyone else may constitute criminal conduct and is strictly prohibited.Sexual Activity: Students may not engage in sexual activity of any kind on campus. Violations may be subject to discipline up to and including expulsion.Conduct outside School: Policies in the Community Handbook apply to conduct not only on campus but also off campus and outside school hours, including during school breaks. Examples of conduct that might result in disciplinary measures include violations of law; purchase, distribution, possession, or use of alcohol or controlled substances; hosting a party at which illegal activity takes place; and cyberbullying or other misuse of computers or the Internet.Discipline: At any time, the School may discipline any student for conduct on or off campus that violates the School&rsquo;s rules or expectations or that the School views as a threat to the well-being and safety of an individual student or of the broader community. Such disciplinary action may include loss of privileges, suspension, and expulsion. Failure to cooperate with a School investigation of misconduct is also grounds for discipline. Depending on the circumstances, the Head of School may require students to participate in counseling, testing and/or treatment for substance abuse, and other measures.Leave of Absence: The School will allow students to remain in good standing while taking time away to address important personal issues. When a disciplinary investigation is pending, the School may, depending on the nature of the offense under investigation, require a student to take a leave of absence. Students may continue to receive instruction and credit for classes completed during such leave.We&rsquo;ve also strengthened our policies about reporting issues and problems. All School employees have been advised that reporting any incident that threatens or impacts student safety is mandatory. Before the opening of school, faculty completed certification courses in first aid and CPR and received specialized training on reporting suspected instances of abuse and assault.In addition to amending the handbook, we have also improved our health and wellness education curriculum. While our Middle School students already receive sex education, we will be adding new and age-appropriate material about building respectful relationships and consent. Upper School students will see more significant changes. We have hired Dr. Kasaan Holmes, a psychologist with broad expertise working with teens, to lead our health and wellness program in that division. We are incorporating a comprehensive sex education curriculum developed by Advocates for Youth, a national organization that focuses on adolescent sexuality and engages students on the complex issues of sex, sexuality, and consent. In 9th grade, students will learn about responsible decision making, understanding and acting in accord with community values, and developing strong interpersonal communications skills. Tenth graders will continue to focus on communication within the context of dating, exploring how to respond to peer pressure, and understanding the parameters of consent. Eleventh and 12th graders will discuss how to respond to rejection and study the effects of alcohol and drugs on sexual behavior.Taken together, our new curriculum and these policies represent best practices in the field; respond to the complex and dynamic realities students, parents, and schools must navigate; and protect the safety and well-being of individual students and the community. The shock and sadness we all felt last March required us to reflect on our practices and culture, and it is incumbent upon us to learn and act upon that reflection. Our revised policies and curriculum represent important steps, and, in the spirit of continuing revelation, we will think critically and carefully about how best to support our students in light of ongoing cultural and social change. In the process, we seek, after the manner of Friends, to be clear about our values and to design polices that affirm the dignity of all individuals while supporting the health of the broader community. We thank you for partnering with us in pursuit of that goal and for helping us promote and steward a culture of respect that will enable our students to thrive intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. I am honored to be doing this work with you, our students, and faculty.In closing, let me say how wonderful it has been to see everyone back on campus and fully engaged in the wide array of activities that make Sidwell Friends the vibrant community that it is. In the midst of the excitement, acts of terror and violence in the wider world have continued to command our attention. Such events remind me of how grateful I am to work in a school that offers Meeting for Worship as a space for shared reflection and embraces the values of peace and equality. We hold all victims of violence and injustice in the Light and will continue to work with students to demonstrate compassion and imagine a world that, in the words of the Peace Testimony, &ldquo;utterly den[ies] all outward wars and strife and fightings with outward weapons, for any end or under any pretence whatsoever.&rdquo;In peace and with gratitude,Bryan Garman

		

		

					

					

					

					

   					

					

					

				

		

		
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