Brownell Happenings

Dear GUSD staff and families:

This afternoon, news broke that there was another mass shooting in America.  This time, it was at an elementary school near San Antonio, Texas, and 14 children and one staff member were killed by an 18 year old.  

My heart aches for the parents and families of these children, and the entire Uvalde community.  News like this always reminds me of what happened in the our community during the 2019 Gilroy Garlic Festival and while I hope that our students feel safe on our campuses, I have no doubt that this news will cause uncertainty and angst for our children.  In 2019, we shared a number of resources with our families about how to talk to children about violence in a community, and it is necessary to share that information with you again.  While we work tirelessly to ensure that this will never happen in our District, I also want to acknowledge very real feelings that might be manifesting for your children today and in the days to come.

Our schools have wonderful partnerships with community organizations to offer support and resources to children while they're at school, and I invite you to utilize these resources for your children at home.  If your child is struggling, please don't hesitate to reach out to their teacher or school principal to find help for them.

• Resources for parents
• Resources for parents of elementary school children
• Resources for parents of teenagers

I am holding those families in Texas in my heart tonight, and am holding you and your family close to my heart as well.

Take care of each other,

Dr. Deborah A. Flores, Ph..D.
Superintendent
Gilroy Unified School District