January 23, 2025

Dear St'a7mes School Families,

The beauty of our school community lies in the way we wrap around and support one another, and I recently experienced this in the most profound way. After the passing of my mother, I returned to work to find that the students and staff had organized thoughtful gifts and learned a new song and dance to help me with me healing. I shared these gestures with my four brothers, and as a family, we were deeply touched by this incredible outpouring of care. This, to me, is the true power of community and culture, and I feel so fortunate to be a part of it.

Over the past week, I’ve had the opportunity to visit classrooms to talk with students about the power of language and how it shapes our interactions and relationships. One topic that has come up during these visits is the popularity of a game called Gorilla Tag. While the game itself is not necessarily problematic, it does involve online interactions where children may have access to other players, including adults. Unfortunately, these virtual environments can sometimes expose children to inappropriate, vulgar, or even racist language.

I encourage families to have regular conversations with their children about their online presence and experiences. Open dialogue can help children navigate these spaces safely and thoughtfully. For more information about Gorilla Tag, please visit this helpful guide: A Parent’s Guide to Gorilla Tag.

Lastly, a quick reminder that tomorrow is a Professional Development Day, and there will be no school for students. We hope families enjoy this opportunity to connect and recharge.

Thank you for being such a vital part of our St'a7mes community.

Take care,
Cory
Principal, St'a7mes School