Letter from Northwood Principal Jonathan Garrick
to Northwood High School Parents about the Palestinian Walkout
Good morning Northwood community:
Students representing our Muslim Student Association (MSA) approached me to propose a student walkout during 7th period (approximately 1:30pm) on Friday, November 17, 2023. Per MCPS BOE regulation, students are permitted to demonstrate peacefully regarding social and political issues and MSA students have followed appropriate protocols. To protect student safety, student organizers have requested use of the Northwood athletic field.
Please note this action is not approved or supported by Northwood or MCPS and students walking out of class will receive an unexcused absence and the MCPS Code of Conduct and Student Culture of Respect apply to student protests. I have also spoken with walkout organizers and they are very aware of the intensity of opinions on both sides of the current conflict in Gaza and Israel and are avoiding specific phrases and slogans which could be hurtful or derogatory against other members of our community.
While this is not a Northwood sanctioned activity, members of our security and admin teams will ensure students are safe. Staff may not bring whole classes to the walkout as this must be a volunteer choice made by students.
Please speak with your student about this student proposal and how they should handle it whether they are in support or opposing the organizers' views.
If you need any support for your student about this issue, please contact your student's counselor. If you have questions about the student walkout proposal, please contact me directly (Jonathan_L_Garrick@mcpsmd.org).
If this letter were an English assignment, it would get an F because it makes so little sense. Oh, wait -- this is MCPS. Give the writer a B for at least turning in this nonsense.
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