Holliston January 2019

Page 2 Holliston Local Town Pages www.localtownpages.com January 2019
VANDALISM
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about the investigation of the incident.
In terms of addressing the
social implications, says Jackson,
the schools will employ tools
they’ve introduced to students.
“Holliston employs a socialemotional
learning curriculum
called open circle,” he says. “It’s
basically a model and a method
for engaging kids in open and
honest exchanges of emotion
in a safe and open environment.
We often use that technique to
have class discussions on issues
independent of curriculum and
respond to issues. We’re using
our open circle time to initiate
conversation about these things.”
That conversation will begin with
a book Holliston has selected
that will be read to students, and
teachers will then use prompts
supplied by the guidance department
to initiate conversation
about respect and tolerance and
those kinds of things, says Jackson.
The book that will be used at
Placentino is called The Judgmental
Flower, by Julia Cook.
“So that’s kind of our immediate
response,” says Jackson.
“We’re also engaged with the
clergy in town, and they have
engaged with the group, Diverse
Holliston. We’re hoping to engage
in some adult conversation
as well. As Holliston becomes a
more diverse community, they’re
sharpening everyone’s awareness
and understanding of these issues.
At the middle- and highschool
levels, says Jackson,
Holliston already has existing
curriculum around these issues
that is introduced during periods
students spend with advisors.
The curriculum is based on a
program by the Anti-Defamation
League called World of Difference.
“This is an area you don’t
want to just jump in the middle
of the pool and jump out again,”
says Jackson. “This is something
we’ve been working for years to
introduce into our social and
emotional curriculum.”
As to his own emotional
response to the hate symbol,
Jackson says, “It certainly is frustrating
to see this type of hateful
symbol on our playground
equipment. It only serves to basically
remind me that there’s a
lot of work to do in this area and
just to basically refocuses me on
this work.”
When asked what parents
might do at home to broach
the topic with their kids, Jackson
notes that an organization
called Teaching Tolerance (www.
tolerance.org) has a book called
Beyond the Golden Rule, a Parent’s
Guide to Responding to and Preventing
Prejudice.
“I can’t endorse the content,”
Jackson admits, “because
I haven’t read it, but it might
be something for parents, and it
does break the message up into
developmentally appropriate
messaging.” A PDF of the book
is available at the organization’s
website.
Jackson says his focus is on
the school experience, to make
sure” schools are tolerant places
where diversity is respected and
embraced, not just racial – it’s
sexual orientation, language,
ability, gender affiliation and gender
identity, but tolerance doesn’t
take seed in intolerant gardens,
so it’s important to not just look
at this as a student issue. That
symbol, whoever etched it into
the slide had a purpose in doing
it, and that purpose came from
somewhere.”
January’s “Community Conversation,”
hosted by Diverse
Holliston will broach the topic of
hate symbols in the community.
Come participate in the conversation
on January 16th from
6-8 p.m. at the Sam Placentino
Elementary School café, 235
Woodland St., Holliston. The
event will include a panel discussion
with religious and education
leadership.
12/17/2018
Dear Placentino Community,
It is with disappointment that we are writing to share that two
swastikas were found etched on our playground late last week. We
apologize for just sharing this information now, but we experienced
a technological error with our new communication system when
we originally sent the message last week. While we believe the symbols
were not seen widespread by students, we feel it is important
to share the incident and steps we are taking to address it. Immediately
after discovery, the Superintendent of Schools and the Holliston
Police Department were notified. Pictures of the symbols were
taken as evidence and, afterward, the symbols were immediately
removed. It is difficult to determine the origin of these carvings. At
this point, we do not know the exact time or who was involved as
our playground is accessible to the public during non-school hours.
Both the Holliston Police Department and our school are actively
investigating the incident. If you have any pertinent information,
please contact the school or the Holliston Police Department directly.
Also, we have reached out and spoken with Rabbi Steven
Edelman-Blank of Temple Beth Torah to share the incident.
These hateful symbols will never be tolerated in our schools. As
a district, we are committed to helping our students demonstrate
acceptance, kindness, and respect for others. As a school, we will
continue to reinforce these values, as well as many others incorporated
into our social-emotional curriculum. This week, each
classroom will have an Open Circle lesson (our social-emotional
learning curriculum) focusing on acceptance and celebrating diversity
and differences. These lessons will be developmentally appropriate
and will not reference the anti-semitic symbols found.
We know you agree, that even one occurrence of this symbol
of hate, is unacceptable. We will continue to work diligently to
promote a safe, caring and respectful learning environment for all.
Sincerely,
Jaime Slaney
Principal of Placentino Elementary School
Bradford L. Jackson, Ed.D
Superintendent of Schools
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Narcotics & Firearms
Investigation, Arrest & Seizure
On Monday, December 17,
2018, at approximately 12:15
a.m., members of the Holliston
Police Department received multiple
calls reporting the sound
of gun shots in the downtown
area. Holliston Police Officers
began an investigation at 79
Hollis Street and later identified
an individual who resides inside
the apartment complex. Based
on the initial investigation, this
male party (Darryl A. Bettis) was
placed into custody and charged
with the following.
• Possession of a Class B substance
• Possession of a Class B substance
with intent to distribute
• Possession of a Class E substance
• Possession of a Class E substance
with intent to distribute
• Unlawful Possession of Ammunition
• Unlawful Possession of Fireworks
Bettis was arraigned on December
17, 2018 in Framingham
District Court. Judge Jennifer
Stark set bail at $1,500. His next
court date is scheduled for January
11, 2019.
A follow-up investigation subsequently
led to the discovery
of eight “spent” shell casings
located on the outside of the
apartment complex at 79 Hollis
Street. As a result, Holliston
Police Officers applied for and
received a search warrant which
resulted in the discovery of a
ARREST
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