Update: Safety and Security at CCHS

To All Members of the CCHS Community,


In Concord, our schools are safe because of our commitment to security, our collaboration with the Concord Police Department, and our students and staff are compassionate people who genuinely care for one another; however, the news cycle reminds us too often that safety in a free and open society is relative.  

We understand that people are clamoring for details particularly in this situation as it deals with the safety of our school. As an ongoing police investigation, there are limits to the amount of detail we can share. With that said, all threats are taken seriously and this particular instance is no exception. We are acutely aware of the immense responsibility we have to keep all students and staff safe, and we handle this responsibility with care.  As a school leadership team, we discuss safety on a daily basis while working closely with the local police departments and our School Resource Officer, Scott Camilleri.

In terms of this particular instance, I can say with confidence that once the threat was brought to our attention we acted swiftly and with urgency to ensure the safety of all students and staff.  In collaboration with the Concord Police Department, we immediately interviewed students within minutes of receiving notification of the threat.  I can say with confidence, we handled this situation with the seriousness all threats deserve. 

The Concord Police Update provides additional information you should review.  

The safety of all students and staff will always be our top priority.  I remind everyone to say something if they see or hear anything that is concerning.  No individual should investigate or try to determine by themselves if a threat is real or severe enough to report to a staff member, a police officer, an administrator, or a parent.  It is incumbent upon each member of our school community to immediately report any incident to ensure that our community is safe. With that said, it is clear the rumor mill is in overdrive, so I caution everyone to deal in facts, avoid innuendo, and refrain from fueling the fire when possible. Please call us with any questions or concerns.  

There are three necessary components to any successful school system; safety, organization, and high expectations for teaching and learning.  Our school excels in all three areas because the strong and robust relationships between students and staff.  While safety will always remain the highest priority; as educators, we know that relationship building, connections with students, and compassion are key elements to a safe and positive learning environment.  

To ensure the best possible environment, we all need to work together to create the mindset that we will arrive at this school every day with the intention of contributing to the well-being of others. I believe that the 1300 individuals who arrive daily should commit to making each day better.  In this context, I am not referring to academic achievement, athletic accolades, or performing and fine art awards, I am talking about acts of kindness and building each other up as opposed to tearing each other down. 

I encourage you to not be hard on yourself as you walk through each day; life is challenging, and mistakes are part of our learning; however, you should have high demands of yourself and those closest to you when it pertains to treating others with kindness.  

I wish everyone a wonderful vacation filled with family and friends, and I look forward to seeing every back on campus in 2019.

Warmly,

Michael J. Mastrullo