We are a group of parents and caregivers whose children attend the Upper Grand DSB. We are greatly concerned with the genocide in Gaza, Palestine and stand together in demanding the the school board take critical steps to end the trend of silencing discussions about Palestine and Palestinian rights and create an environment where all students, staff, and community members are safe, supported, and respected.
If you'd like to sign this open letter please add your name below. The names of all signatories will be sent to those whom the letter is directed to, but will not be published publicly out of respect for the privacy of families.
If you have any questions or concerns please email guelph4palestine@gmail.com
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February 10, 2025
Upper Grand District School Board
500 Victoria Road North
Guelph, ON N1E 6K2
Attn: Peter Sovran, Director of Education and CEO; Alicia Ralph, Human Rights, Equity and Accessibility Commissioner; Trustee Ralf Mesenbrink, Chair
Dear Mr. Sovran, Ms. Ralph, superintendents, and trustees of the Upper Grand DSB,
We, the undersigned, are writing to you with urgency and deep concern regarding the Upper Grand District School Board’s (UGDSB) response to the ongoing genocide in Palestine, as well as the prevalence of anti-Palestinian racism in our school communities. We urge you to hold yourselves accountable to Upper Grand District School Board’s Policy 504 on Inclusive Education, in which the board has committed to “identify and name bias, oppression and racism through reflection, evidence, voice, feedback and data, build collaborative relationships to foster community alignment, address and educate with accountable policies and procedures [and] eliminate bias, oppression and racism through disruption and procedures.”
The recent events surrounding the suffering of Palestinian families, as well as the troubling trend of silencing discussions about Palestine and Palestinian rights, have highlighted a need for the UGDSB to take a stronger stand against anti-Palestinian racism and to uphold the values of human rights, equity, and justice.
We demand that the UGDSB immediately take the following actions:
1. Include anti-Palestinian racism in the UGDSB’s Equity Policy.
2. Publicly affirm that UGDSB students and staff will not be punished for supporting Palestinian human rights and/or criticizing the state of Israel.
3. Develop and offer educational resources and training at all levels of the UGDSB related to Palestinian human rights and anti-Palestinian racism.
4. End collaborations with groups that perpetrate anti-Palestinian racism, harass students and staff, target progressive Jewish voices, or push for curbs on civil liberties. Collaborations include, but are not limited to: creating and conducting workshops for students or staff, leading PD for staff, assisting with policy directives, and offering field trips for students.
5. Build collaborations with organizations that teach that Jewish identity is not inherently linked to Israel and recognize diversity within Jewish populations.
6. Acknowledge harm done to Palestinian families by the UGDSB’s erasure of Palestinian suffering in communications to all UGDSB parents and caregivers and the continued silence of the UGDSB during what the United Nations has called “unparalleled and unprecedented” killing of civilians that is leading Gaza to become “a graveyard for children.”
The UGDSB is responsible for creating an environment where all students, staff, and community members are safe, supported, and respected. By addressing these demands, the Board will affirm its commitment to justice, equity, and human rights for all, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or political beliefs. We urge you to take these actions immediately, to demonstrate that the UGDSB is a leader in promoting equity and inclusivity, and to stand in solidarity with Palestinian families who are suffering at this very moment.
We look forward to your response and to meaningful steps the UGDSB will take to implement these demands.
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