October 26, 2023
Dear Port Washington Community,
I am writing to address a matter of great concern that has come to our attention involving a Weber Middle School student and an antisemitic post on Snapchat. We take this issue very seriously and our goal is to be as transparent as possible with the community.
As soon as we were made aware of the post, we launched an investigation. The Weber administration took immediate steps to interview all students involved to make an accurate determination of the events that took place. It was determined that a public post was made, tagging friends, with content that included an antisemitic remark.
Making these types of statements, even between friends as a ‘joke,’ is completely unacceptable behavior. State and Federal law prohibit us from sharing information regarding the specific facts and discipline of individual students, but be assured this matter is being taken with the utmost of seriousness and all responsible parties are being held accountable for their actions.
I want to stress that any form of antisemitic speech or discrimination of any kind is completely unacceptable in our school community. Such actions can cause harm and offense to others, and we are committed to addressing and educating our students on the importance of respect, tolerance, and empathy for all religions, cultures and backgrounds. We believe in the potential for growth and learning from our mistakes, and we hope this incident will be a teaching moment for our children.
As we had noted in a previous communication with the community, we will be organizing workshops and awareness programs for all our students, focusing on promoting religious and cultural sensitivity and combating hate speech and discrimination. We strongly encourage parents to engage in open and honest discussions with their children about the importance of respecting all cultures, religions, and backgrounds. We ask for your partnership in monitoring your children’s engagement with social media, including their handle names and avatar pictures. Each family plays an integral part in making sure their children are using social media in a responsible manner.
Our shared goal is to create a school environment where every student feels safe, respected, and included. We are dedicated to working together to address this matter and prevent such incidents from happening in the future. Our school counselors are available to offer support and guidance to any student who may be affected by these incidents, or any other issues.
Please feel free to reach out to your child’s building principal or my office if you have any concerns or questions. Thank you for your understanding and support in our efforts to maintain a positive and inclusive school community.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Hynes, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
