Dear
Parent/Guardian:
This
is an informational letter to help members of the Copper Hills Elementary
community feel safe and protected while at school and on school property. The
administration has noticed that a few of the students who attend Copper Hills
have been bringing gang-related clothing and items to school. The following is
a list of items/paraphernalia that are not allowed on or within 1,000 feet of
the school premises:
·
Clothing which is
“color on color” such as a red t-shirt with red pants.
·
Old English lettering of any kind. i.e.:
·
Bandanas of any
color – especially blue, red, brown, or black.
·
Boy scout-style
belts with the tip of the belt hanging low/exposed.
·
Boy scout-style
belt buckles with Old English lettering on them (not allowed – even if the
initial stands for the student’s name).
·
Hair nets or
anything that covers the hair meant to “train” the hair back.
·
The numbers 13 or
14 (or any number that can be associated with a gang or an inappropriate
reference, such as “69.” Gang-related or inappropriate numbers are not allowed
on clothing, doodles, drawings, notebooks, shoes, pants, t-shirts, or anything
that students wear, bring, or handle at school.
·
The words “Surreños”
or Norteños” or any derivation thereof.
·
The terms: “Brown
pride,” “White pride,” “Black pride,” “Asian pride,” or any other type of
“pride” that has the intention of segregating the student population.
·
Pictures of a
smiley face next to a frowny face (a visual for the gang-related term “laugh
now, cry later”).
·
“XXX” on anything
– even skin (denotes affiliation with the Straight Edge movement and is also a
sexual reference).
·
No drawing on any
body part.
·
Three dots on the
knuckles or between the thumb and index finger.
·
Sagging or
oversized pants.
·
Shirts that have
the names of gang-affiliated or criminally affiliated rappers/artists. i.e.: Tu
Pac, Bob Marley, G-Unit, 50 Cent, Insane Clown Posse (ICP), Psychedelic
Records, etc.
·
Drug references.
i.e.: Marijuana leaves embossed/tattooed on t-shirts or other apparel/items/body
parts.
·
The symbol of a
man running with a hatchet (known as the “Hatchet Man” within the group known
as “Juggalos” – a group that advocates drug use, an “anything goes” mentality,
violence towards others, and sexual promiscuity. The group comes from an
affiliation with the rock group Insane Clown Posse or “ICP.”).
·
References to
Juggalos or Juggalettes.
·
Numbers or
letters that are crossed out (usually in assignments). i.e.: a “C” with a slash
through it is a sign for “crip killer” (a type of gang). The letters CK or BK
(blood killer) or BKK are strictly prohibited.
- The “throwing” of gang signs with the hands,
fingers, and arms. Usually, when students do this, they make a “W” with
one hand/fingers and a “V” and a backwards “C” with the
other hand/fingers for “West Valley Crips.”
- Gang-related speech, references, or the
glorification of any illegal entity/activity.
If you would like more information
on how to prevent your child from becoming involved with a gang and how to spot
gang-related behavior, please go to the following web sites:
A Parent’s Guide to
Preventing Gangs:
http://www.segag.org/pargde.html AND http://www.lunaweb.com/pargang.htm
Wikipedia – The Free
Encyclopedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangs_in_the_United_States_of_America
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_California_street_gangs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nortenos
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surenos
The following are things that
you, as a parent/guardian, can do to help prevent your child from becoming gang
involved:
- Impress upon your child the importance of
school and good grades.
- Spend quality time with your children.
- Get involved in your child's school activities.
- Establish rules, set limits and be consistent,
firm and fair in punishment.
- Encourage good study habits.
- Respect your child's feelings and attitudes and
help them develop self-esteem.
- Watch closely for negative influences.
- Improve your own self-esteem so your children
can model themselves after the most important "role model"...
YOU.
We appreciate your support
in helping us make Copper Hills Elementary a safe school zone where students
are able to learn in a comfortable, non-threatening environment. If you have
any questions or concerns, please contact us at 801-646-4792.
Sincerely,
__________________________________ __________________________________
Janice Flanagan, Principal