<div dir="ltr"><span id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-d36bceea-7fff-b619-4892-7043ea002cac"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Dear Families,</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">I am reaching out to you in light of the recent protests around the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd. I do so knowing that we are all experiencing a deep range of emotions during this time. I also do so knowing that the ways in which we are impacted by recent events are closely connected to our own racial identities. My Black colleagues express that they are tired and angry. It is now up to the rest of us to dig deep and figure out how we all can be allies in this fight.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">In thinking about the next steps for our school community, we are committing to doing better for all our children. This means developing anti-racist, anti-bias curriculum that lives in all our classrooms all year long. This also means that we as adults must talk about racism; the work is ongoing and never-ending, and we must rededicate ourselves to it as a school. Please join me in taking action in ways that lead to the kind of community and world we hope to build.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Parents also need to be talking about race and racism with their children. Children are not too young to have these conversations. Research shows that by 4 or 5 years old, children begin to show racial prejudice and bias. Don’t let uncertainty get in the way of these conversations. You are your child’s most important teacher.  Here is a link to a collection of (growing) resources that our staff put together, which can support you in talking with your child about race and racism: </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="https://wke.lt/w/s/970iGM" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">https://wke.lt/w/s/970iGM</span></a></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">If you have additional resources, please share them with the community.  </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">With Much Love,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Dyanthe</span></p></span><div><br></div>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><br></font><div><font face="arial, sans-serif"><a href="http://tnsny.org" target="_blank">tnsny.org</a><br></font></div><div><a href="mailto:DSpielberg@schools.nyc.gov" target="_blank"><font face="arial, sans-serif">DSpielberg@schools.nyc.gov</font></a></div>Preferred pronouns: <i>she, her, hers</i><div><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>