SMSD Response to Parade Incident

Dear Shawnee Mission Families, Staff, and Community,

Today has been a day unlike any that most of us here in the Kansas City area have ever experienced. It began with such joy and anticipation, and has ended with tragedy and pain that none of us could have anticipated. The details about the shooting that took place at Union Station are still coming in, and we will learn more in the coming hours and days about the direct and indirect ways that we have been affected, as individuals and as a school community.

One thing that speakers referenced over and over again during the celebration was the notion that the Kansas City Metro Area is “Chief’s Kingdom.” The idea that we are all interconnected - despite divisions in geography, income, race, and political ideology - is a powerful one. The parade and the celebration at Union Station gave us striking visual imagery of those interconnections. Here in the Shawnee Mission School District, we talk about the fact that we are One Shawnee Mission. In the next few days, we will need to lean on that unity, and on each other. 

We know that some of our students will struggle to make sense of what has happened. We will have counselors and social workers available at all of our buildings in the morning and in the days to come, to provide support to students who need it. We will proceed with a normal day tomorrow, because we know that our children often crave the security of routines when times are hard. At the same time, we will be prepared to make adjustments as necessary, so that each student receives the support that they need.

Today has been hard, but if there is one thing I know, it is that together, we can do hard things. We will lean on each other in the days to come, and make sure that support is available for all who need it. Tonight, more than ever, we are One Shawnee Mission.

Sincerely,

Dr. Michelle Hubbard

Superintendent