May 23, 2025
Dear Parkway Heights Middle School Parents, Community, and Staff:
We are writing to follow-up with you regarding the staff member arrest notification sent to our community yesterday. The health, safety, and welfare of our students is of paramount importance, and we want to share with you our efforts to continue to provide ongoing support for our students, staff, and families at Parkway Heights Middle School.
In addition to ongoing training and team support, we are implementing the following measures to respond to and address the emotional needs of our students and staff:
- Debriefing and support activities are in place now and will be through the end of the school year. Additional onsite counseling and mental health resources will remain available as needed.
- We continue to partner with local agencies, including San Mateo County Health and the San Mateo County Office of Education, to provide additional support for students and families. Please visit www.smchealth.org/crisisservices for more information.
- Teachers and staff have been asked to remain vigilant and refer any student showing signs of distress to our counselors.
- Every staff member is dedicated to the safety and well-being of our students. All of our employees receive annual mandatory training and education regarding the prevention of child abuse (including sexual abuse), as well as training and education regarding specific forms of appropriate interactions with students.
- The South San Francisco Police Department will continue to partner with us to ensure the safety of our community and are represented on our crisis response teams.
We wish to remind our community that safety continues to be our highest priority. While our goals for student achievement reflect our focus on teaching and learning, we will always be deeply committed to the safety of everyone on our campus.
While we continue to work together to provide a supportive and safe environment for our students and staff, it is important to watch for signs of depression or post-traumatic stress. Please do not hesitate to inform your child’s teacher and/or counselor if you see signs of distress at home.
We also believe this is an opportunity to discuss with your child the importance of maintaining open communication with you as parents, or another trusted adult, especially if they feel that something inappropriate or uncomfortable has happened at or related to school. If you believe there is information the school should be aware of, and/or should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact your child’s school office.
Our focus remains on providing a meaningful education and a safe, supportive environment for all students. Together, we will navigate these challenging circumstances with care and resilience.
Thank you for your continued partnership. We deeply appreciate the strength and unity of our community.
Sincerely,
Kathie Nguyen
Principal
Parkway Heights Middle School