Educating students on unintended consequences

After an exciting Homecoming Week, I want to thank the Whitefish community for your support of Whitefish Schools. I also want to address a community concern that has had unintended consequences on the perceptions of our student body.

On the evening of Sunday, Sept. 22, many students of Whitefish High School participated in a hide and seek “game” that occurred across town — an activity that was not sanctioned or endorsed by us. While our students had the intention of it being a harmless activity, it ultimately gave our high school a black eye, even though we didn’t support or have prior knowledge of it.

This activity was evidently planned and organized outside of school through social media and word of mouth. The fact that the students used the high school parking lot as an unauthorized home base added to the perception that our school was somehow involved.

I am working with my assistant principal, school resource officer, and Student Council to educate our student body with the unintended consequences that have negatively impacted our friends, neighbors, and community at large. Those consequences include people’s perceptions of our school, and their support of our programs, that ripple well beyond the night of “fun.”

The spirit of Whitefish High School is a true source of pride for me. Our students are smart, creative, and preparing to be the new leaders of tomorrow. I feel confident that our students will empathize with those impacted by their behavior and find solutions to address this issue. This is a learning opportunity that will help our students act proactively, positively, and more responsibly in the future.

We will continue to strive for excellence in all regards and work hard to build and rebuild Bulldog Pride across this community.

Kerry Drown, Principal at Whitefish High School