GILMOUR ACADEMY Sponsored by the Brothers of Holy Cross Founded in 1946 OFFICE OF THE HEAD OF SCHOOL April 29, 2014 Dear Parents & Alumni, I am writing today to tell you about an important initiative we are launching at Gilmour Academy. We have formed a partnership with our friends at St. Edward High School and Saint Ignatius High School on a wellness initiative that will focus on keeping our students drug-free through a combination of education, testing and support. Like all teenagers, our students face pressure to experiment with illegal substances. They see a growing acceptance of drug culture in mass media, in society in general and even in our legislatures, with the recent decriminalization of marijuana for recreational use in two states and similar legislation pending in several other states. In fact, drug abuse is probably the largest single threat to high school student achievement facing our country today. While we have no evidence that the use of illegal substances at Gilmour is higher or lower than at other schools, we want to do everything we can to keep our students well and safe. After extensive research and approval from our Board of Trustees, beginning next fall we will conduct drug testing of our Upper School students (grades 9-12), using a non-invasive hair sampling procedure. Along with our friends at St. Edward and Saint Ignatius, we have retained the services of Psychemedics Corporation of Massachusetts to test hair samples of our entire Upper School student body, followed by periodic random tests throughout the 2014-2015 school year. Evidence of drug use can stay in a person’s hair for up to 90 days. Therefore, we are letting students know about this upcoming program now, well in advance of that 90-day window, to allow students ample time to make the right choices so that all of our tests return substance-free. Like our other wellness initiatives, this program is all about making good choices – a value we want to instill now to benefit our students throughout their lives. We know that substance abuse often begins with casual drug and alcohol use during the teen years. Even though there is no evidence of widespread substance abuse among our student body, even one student at risk is one too many. We are confident that our testing program will empower our students to make the right choices. Additionally, it will give them an “out” when faced with inevitable peer pressure. Earlier this morning, we met with our Middle and Upper School students to explain this program. Similar meetings were held at our partner schools. More information about this initiative can be found here, including answers to frequently asked questions. We invite all Gilmour parents of current students to attend a parent meeting on Thursday, May 8 at 7 p.m. in Our Lady Chapel to hear more from us and from the experts who will conduct the testing. Meanwhile, more information about Psychemedics and their testing protocol can be found at www.psychemedics.com or www.schooldrugtesting.com. It is important to note that this initiative is about helping our students first and holding them accountable second. We decided to initiate drug testing of our Upper School students out of a deep concern for their health and well-being. The stakes are too high. Every day, young people across the nation make poor choices that lead to failure in the classroom, serious injury, a life of chemical dependence and even death. Just recently, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine called heroin addiction a statewide epidemic and, here in Cuyahoga County, heroin addiction took more lives last year than homicides or car accidents. But it’s not just opiates; young people today are experimenting with everything from cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana and methamphetamines to prescription drugs. This initiative is simply one more component in our student wellness efforts that encompass the range of threats high school students potentially face such as bullying and physical security, along with a range of issues such as healthy eating choices, the importance of exercise, and our concussion testing program. Again, this is not designed to be a punitive program; it’s designed as a proactive prevention and intervention strategy. By identifying students at risk, we can work with their parents and health professionals to get them the help they need and re-direct their path. Privacy will be a priority with all testing information. In cases where intervention is necessary, the student’s guidance counselor will be informed so that the necessary follow up can begin with the student and his/her parents. We will keep parents fully informed about the testing process and the results – and we will only release evidence of substance use to a student’s parents or guardian, and where appropriate, medical or counseling personnel for substance abuse assessment with the parents’ permission. As always, we will work with our parents in any instance in which a student is in need of counseling or other intervention based on drug or alcohol abuse. We are partners in the formation of the young men and women entrusted to us. It is our responsibility to provide the students of Gilmour Academy with every tool necessary to keep them safe and pave a path to success. This new initiative will do just that. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at laveller@gilmour.org. Sincerely, Br. Robert E. Lavelle, C.S.C. Head of School