On Oct. 8, following a surprise attack on Israel by Hamas—a palestinian militant group—the Israeli government formally declared war on the group. Israel retaliated by announcing a “complete siege” of Gaza by cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and water—essentially sealing off the Gaza Strip.
This war has become an increasingly present topic of conversation across the nation as tensions and death tolls rise in both territories. Israeli and Palestinian groups have a history of conflict that began long before the recent attacks.
On Oct. 12, the Sweetwater Union High School District (SUHSD) Superintendent Moisés G. Aguirre released a message in regards to the rising tensions in the Middle East, specifically in Israel and the Gaza Strip. The email briefly outlined how SUHSD planned to educate the students on these tensions and how they planned to handle the issues that may arise in the district.
In the email, Aguirre explained how the district understands that “these events can elicit strong emotions and diverse perspectives within our community.” While the United States government has announced that they stand with Israel in this conflict, SUHSD did not establish a standing with any group, only stating that they are committed to maintaining “an environment that is safe, welcoming, and supportive for all, regardless of their backgrounds, beliefs, or nationalities.”
Bonita Vista High (BVH) principal Lee Romero explains the involvement that he and his department had in the sending out of the email. Before it had been sent out, students had already expressed their concerns to Romero.
“The day [after] the war started, I got an email from one of our students about it. It was more of a concern email because a lot of our students have relatives on the Israeli side or the Palestinian side. I called the district and asked them if we were going to send something out as a district and they said yes,” Romero said.
Additionally, the email addressed growing concerns surrounding safety in our schools and communities due to the conflict. On Oct. 13, many students stayed home because of a reported “Day of Jihad.” Senior Amelie Juneau is one of many students whose parents worry lead to her staying home for the day.
“My mom didn’t want to take the risk of me being at school and something actually did happen. She had heard about it a bit on the news and then she read the email. It was a precaution more than anything because it might have happened, it might have not,” Juneau said.
Romero understands and sympathizes with parents who kept their students home. He shares similar sentiments as his number one goal during all of this is to prioritize student safety.
“I’m not one that’s going to hold it against them [parents] about keeping their kids out [of school]. Because number one, as parents, you want the kids to be safe. So we did not put pressure on any family or students wanting to stay home, just to feel safe. So we were very supportive of people’s feelings,” Romero said.
In a recorded message, a former Hamas leader had designated Oct. 13, as the “Day of Jihad,” calling on Muslims to take to the streets and deliver a message of anger. Rumors of this day were spread to cities worldwide.
In the email Aguirre said that media outlets have reported “calls for a day of ‘general mobilization’ and mass demonstrations.” However, Aguirre goes on to state that “law enforcement is not aware of any calls for action in San Diego County.” Despite this, many parents still urged their children to stay home.
“Parents were worried about their kid’s safety. It has affected the school environment with how the kids are reacting to what could have happened. And a lot of absences could have really affected the school’s attendance,” Juneau said.
Amidst all this conflict, Romero stresses that BVH’s number one priority is promoting not only safety but peace. He acknowledges the varying perspectives held within the community and how as a school BVH must be in support of any student affected by the war.
“What we’re trying to focus on is understanding that there’s students that are from Palestine that go here, there are students that have relatives in Israel. We don’t want to talk about politics, about taking one side or the other, but we want to focus on being peaceful. We stand for peace and unity,” Romero said.
Speaking for SUHSD as a whole, Aguirre states that the district believes it to be their “duty to uphold our core values and support all members of our community.” The email concluded with a hopeful wish for the community to “work toward a more peaceful and inclusive world where understanding and empathy prevail over hatred and division.”
“We need to be aware that people are afraid and we can’t discount that their fear is real. It’s not something you just get over it, because they’re truly nervous about their safety and the future of what’s going on in the Middle East. But as far as Bonita Vista High School, we’re focusing on peace,” Romero said.
