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Dear Newman Community,

I write with some troubling news that affects our school community. Regrettably, last night Newman was vandalized with a threatening message. Out of an abundance of caution and for the safety of our students and all members of our community, we have decided to postpone the opening of school to Monday, August 22.

We currently are working with authorities to respond to this threat and to ensure the safety of our school community. We closed campus at noon today and it will remain closed on Thursday and Friday. All activities scheduled to take place on campus, including athletic practices and games, have been cancelled.

Nothing is more important to us than the safety of your children. We are working with the NOPD, the FBI, and other law enforcement agencies to investigate fully and thoroughly. Additionally, we have engaged professionals nationally and locally for guidance and support. Given the circumstances, we believe that it is prudent to close school while we organize resources to ensure our school community is safe.

We are grateful for your patience and understanding as we navigate this unfortunate situation. Our hope is that we will soon be able to re-focus on our mission of educating our students with the utmost care. As you know, Newman is fortunate to have a strong team of counselors on staff to assist with any feelings you or your children may want to share.