Incident at Iroquois Ridge HS
April 26
April 26
Information for Iroquois Ridge HS Families & Staff
April 28, 2024
Dear families and staff of Iroquois Ridge High School,
We are aware of a video circulating online showing a staff member speaking with some students at our school. In the video, the staff member is shown using harmful and discriminatory anti-Palestinian racist language toward a student. This incident took place in the school office on Friday, April 26.
We are deeply concerned by this and share our community's concerns that this behaviour is harmful and unacceptable. Anti-Palestinian racism, and racism in any form, is not tolerated at our school. Iroquois Ridge HS, along with all schools in the Halton District School Board (HDSB), strongly condemns this behaviour and are committed to upholding the Human Rights Code.
Discriminatory and harmful language causes pain and trauma to individuals to whom it is directed and to those who witness and/or share the same identity. We seek to affirm the identities of all students and build a community free from discrimination in all its forms.
The HDSB Discriminatory and Harmful Language Protocol provides clear expectations for how we respond when harm is caused. We will be reviewing our expectations with all staff. This incident highlights that as staff and school leaders, we need to deepen our learning and understanding of racism and discrimination. We strive to create a space at our school where all students feel safe, welcomed and valued.
The staff member in this video has been assigned home, pending an investigation by the Halton District School Board Human Resources Department into the incident.
Students who wish to talk about how they are feeling or who are in need of support are encouraged to speak, at any time, with a trusted adult including a teacher, Educational Assistant, Social Worker or school administration. Further resources are provided below.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me.
Sincerely,
John Stieva
Principal
Iroquois Ridge High School
Community Resources and Support
Students may call the ROCK Crisis Line at 905-878-9785 which is available 24 hours a day/seven days a week, or Kids Help Phone - Call a Counsellor: 1-800-668-6868; Text a Counsellor: 686868; Live Chat: https://kidshelpphone.ca/live-chat/.
Students can find mental health and well-being information and resources on their school website or through the HDSB website on the Mental Health & Well-Being webpage.
Identity-Specific Supports:
Black Youth Helpline: 1-833-294-8650
COAST (16+): Neuro-inclusive crisis support; 1-877-825-9011
Distress Centre Halton: (All ages) Neuro-inclusive support; 905-849-4541 (Oakville), 905-681-1488 (Burlington), 905-877-1211 (Milton/Halton Hills)
Indigenous Hope for Wellness Helpline (12+): 1-855-242-3310
Kids Help Phone (Up to age 24) Neuro-inclusive support; 1-800-668-6868 text 686868
LGBT+ Youth Line: 1-800-268-9688 (call) or 647-694-4275 (text); Online Live Chat, 4 - 9:30 p.m.
Multilingual Distress Line: 1-877-298-5444; (TTY) 905-278-4890. Languages served include: English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu.
Naseeha Helpline (All ages): Muslim support line; 1-866-627-3342 (call) or 1-866-627-3342 (text)
ROCK: 24 hr crisis line; Neuro-inclusive support: 905-878-9785
Talk4Healing (All ages): Indigenous women’s support and resources; 1-855-554-4325
Trans Line: Trans peer support line; 1-877-565-8860