For March 11th and 12th:

March 9th Letter – March 11th & 12th Updates

Dear Viking Family,

Wednesday’s unprecedented act of violence at the SEPTA stop near Rising Sun and Cottman Avenues has left all of us experiencing a wide range of emotions. The school building will be closed this weekend, and all events over the weekend are postponed. This weekend is a time for all of us to focus on healing and embracing  one another. We encourage students to spend time with loved ones, engage in activities that bring comfort, and get enough sleep. Prioritize self-care – it’s essential during this challenging time.

We want to assure you that the safety and well-being of our students remain our top priority.  I wanted to share the steps we are taking to continue providing a safe and welcoming learning environment for Northeast HIgh School (NEHS) students and staff. In order to provide more small group and individualized support, we will have students return to in-person learning in two shifts.

On Monday, 3/11/24, 11th and 12th grade students will return to in-person learning, at regular time (7:42 AM start time). 9th and 10th grade students will be virtual. 

On Tuesday, 3/12/24, 9th and 10th grade students will return to in-person learning, at regular time (7:42 AM start time), 11th and 12th grade students will be virtual. 

Teachers will communicate with virtual students over Google Classroom each day regarding the meetings and classwork.

The School District of Philadelphia’s Emergency Crisis Response Team of the Office of Prevention and Intervention, including crisis counselors, will be on-site to support our students with grief counseling and whatever emotional assistance they need. Students also have access to Kooth – a confidential online mental health and well-being platform designed to provide students with access to personalized care at no cost. Kooth  is also available to students from the comfort of their home by visiting: us.kooth.com/philasd. Staff will have access to Lyra Health – an online resource that connects employees, spouses, and their dependents to mental and emotional health care that is effective, convenient, and personalized.

For more information, please visit: https://philasd.lyrahealth.com/ or you can call our Care Navigator Team at (877) 353-0097 or email us at care@lyrahealth.com.

Should you notice any unusual changes in your child’s behavior or mood, you can also call or text 1-833-PHL-HOPE (1-833-745-4673) for free support and information. Our full team of counselors, additional support staff, and agencies will be available on-site at Northeast High School to provide support to teachers,  students, and staff.

In addition,  there will be an increased, highly visible presence of the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) and the District’s Office of School Safety (OSS) in the school’s immediate vicinity. We will continue to work closely with PPD should they need to deploy additional resources. SEPTA Police have increased physical police patrols of the bus routes in the vicinity of Northeast HS and have additional personnel monitoring the cameras of those buses remotely so that they can coordinate police activity. SEPTA Police encourage students to download the free Transit Police App which enables them to report anything that makes them feel less safe. Those reports are received by police dispatchers who can direct the nearby patrols to vet any concern. You can find it by searching “SEPTA Transit Watch” in the app store.

Please know that the District is working closely with the Philadelphia Police Department every day to keep a close eye on what’s going on in our communities and provide extra resources when needed to support the safety of our schools, staff and students. The District is also committed to working together with the Mayor’s office, City Council, the business community, and other Philadelphians who share the urgent need to reduce gun violence in our city.

This tragedy has deeply impacted our community. We are committed to supporting you and your children during this difficult time. Remember, you are not alone. We will continue to communicate updates throughout the week. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Northeast High School main office at 215-400-3200.

 

Sincerely,

Principal Crowder