Anonymous
Post 02/02/2024 07:17     Subject: Do we talk about emails from Superintendent (overdose)
It will hit 6th grade at some point so then you will all be glad these emails exist.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2024 06:41     Subject: Do we talk about emails from Superintendent (overdose)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What is the purpose of these email notifications other than to fan the flames of gossip and speculation? Why did the governor want this type of communication going out across the county? There are other ways to remind kids that drugs are bad. I feel awful for the kids who overdosed and are subjects of these emails as well as their parents. They deserve privacy while navigating this problem.


I am grateful these messages are going out. Whether the email goes out or not, there will be gossip and speculation. Too many parents put their heads in the sand or are ignorant of that deaths are really happening in our schools even before HS. I wish we had a sense of how many non-fatal ODs are occurring. These happen in plain sight — in the past and to a certain extent even now — administrators gaslight student witnesses. Kid at our HS OD’d in the middle of the cafeteria only a couple years ago and students were made to continue on as if nothing was happening. WTF?! The kid didn’t die and was back playing his sport the next day. No wonder so many kids are checking out from school.


There will always be gossip and speculation but sending county wide emails spreads it from just that school to hundreds of thousands of people (parents, grandparents, guardians). These are tweens and teens that are the subject of these emails. Imagine going through the trauma of overdose, already having everyone in your school know, and then now everyone else associated with FCPS knowing as well. Even if you do know it's going on, parent who want to stick their head in the sand will still say things like PP blaming "other" bussed in kids because it couldn't possibly be their snowflake doing drugs.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2024 03:44     Subject: Do we talk about emails from Superintendent (overdose)
Anonymous wrote:What is the purpose of these email notifications other than to fan the flames of gossip and speculation? Why did the governor want this type of communication going out across the county? There are other ways to remind kids that drugs are bad. I feel awful for the kids who overdosed and are subjects of these emails as well as their parents. They deserve privacy while navigating this problem.


I am grateful these messages are going out. Whether the email goes out or not, there will be gossip and speculation. Too many parents put their heads in the sand or are ignorant of that deaths are really happening in our schools even before HS. I wish we had a sense of how many non-fatal ODs are occurring. These happen in plain sight — in the past and to a certain extent even now — administrators gaslight student witnesses. Kid at our HS OD’d in the middle of the cafeteria only a couple years ago and students were made to continue on as if nothing was happening. WTF?! The kid didn’t die and was back playing his sport the next day. No wonder so many kids are checking out from school.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2024 00:17     Subject: Do we talk about emails from Superintendent (overdose)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Which middle schools?


Today's overdose was at Whitman. Parents, please talk to your middle schoolers about drugs. It could easily be your school next.
-MS teacher


That's the school that's located in an area outside the boundaries of its geographic district, and children (mostly poor) are bussed in. This is a classic example of what education redlining looks like. Surprised to read only about one overdose (likely underreported). The system is working according to how the school board designed it.
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2024 23:34     Subject: Do we talk about emails from Superintendent (overdose)
Is it only required for public schools?
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2024 22:13     Subject: Do we talk about emails from Superintendent (overdose)
Anonymous wrote:What is the purpose of these email notifications other than to fan the flames of gossip and speculation? Why did the governor want this type of communication going out across the county? There are other ways to remind kids that drugs are bad. I feel awful for the kids who overdosed and are subjects of these emails as well as their parents. They deserve privacy while navigating this problem.


The superintendent emails are a requirement because of a new mandate from the new governed. Personally, I’m thankful for the attention to the issue. I hope FCPS has another info night for parents and students about the opioid crisis because we couldn’t attend the last one.
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2024 21:48     Subject: Do we talk about emails from Superintendent (overdose)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What is the purpose of these email notifications other than to fan the flames of gossip and speculation? Why did the governor want this type of communication going out across the county? There are other ways to remind kids that drugs are bad. I feel awful for the kids who overdosed and are subjects of these emails as well as their parents. They deserve privacy while navigating this problem.


To remind parents to remind their kids that drugs are bad. This isn't political. Get over yourself.


I think another aspect has been to raise sensitivity about the pervasiveness of the problem. A lot of people convinced themselves drugs were just a rich kid problem at Langley, but locally in VA some of the overdoses have been at schools like Whitman, Justice, Wakefield, and Park View.
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2024 21:44     Subject: Do we talk about emails from Superintendent (overdose)
Anonymous wrote:What is the purpose of these email notifications other than to fan the flames of gossip and speculation? Why did the governor want this type of communication going out across the county? There are other ways to remind kids that drugs are bad. I feel awful for the kids who overdosed and are subjects of these emails as well as their parents. They deserve privacy while navigating this problem.


To remind parents to remind their kids that drugs are bad. This isn't political. Get over yourself.
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2024 21:03     Subject: Do we talk about emails from Superintendent (overdose)
Because Loudoun had like 10 overdoses at a high school over just a few weeks and waited to notify any parents about the situation. That’s why we have the email requirement now
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2024 20:46     Subject: Do we talk about emails from Superintendent (overdose)
What is the purpose of these email notifications other than to fan the flames of gossip and speculation? Why did the governor want this type of communication going out across the county? There are other ways to remind kids that drugs are bad. I feel awful for the kids who overdosed and are subjects of these emails as well as their parents. They deserve privacy while navigating this problem.
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2024 20:31     Subject: Do we talk about emails from Superintendent (overdose)
Time is better spent discussing with your children.
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2024 19:33     Subject: Do we talk about emails from Superintendent (overdose)
Anonymous wrote:Which middle schools?


Today's overdose was at Whitman. Parents, please talk to your middle schoolers about drugs. It could easily be your school next.
-MS teacher
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2024 19:21     Subject: Do we talk about emails from Superintendent (overdose)
Which middle schools?
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2024 18:56     Subject: Re:Do we talk about emails from Superintendent (overdose)
Feel free, there were discussions about the other emails. Not sure what is to be said. It sucks, kids are taking huge risks when using any drugs now. Not sue what the school can do to prevent it.
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2024 18:49     Subject: Do we talk about emails from Superintendent (overdose)
This time it’s about a student at a middle school. I’m surprised there is no thread here, but I don’t frequent this forum.
Can we discuss?