A Message from the Superintendent:

This week, we all suffered the greatest tragedy a school community can face – gun violence took the life of a Watson Chapel Junior High student.  The students, teachers, parents, and staff of Watson Chapel School District are forever changed by the loss of Daylon Burnett. WCSD has offered our support and prayers to Daylon’s family and will continue to reach out to them in the days to come as we work to honor Daylon’s memory.

Our community must come together to heal from this tragedy.  There is no roadmap for grieving, but we can all ensure that there is love, grace, and unity. We continue to offer our prayers, love, and support to the families whose lives will never be the same. We must offer each other support and strength as we all process this tragedy and move toward healing.  We must communicate with each other and trust that every one of us is doing our best to support our students, families, and co-workers.

Counselors, pastors, and youth ministers from all over Pine Bluff and the state of Arkansas have been available to staff and students every day since Tuesday.  Please urge your co-workers and your students to begin processing their grief with these counselors and mentors.  Counselors will be available for as long as needed.

As part of efforts to support our students and employees, I made the decision to pivot to virtual instruction at the junior high campus on Tuesday and Wednesday.  My hope was that this would allow our teachers and staff the time and space to begin processing this tragedy together with the support of co-workers and trained counselors, while giving our students time at home with their families. Students returned to campus yesterday, March 4.  I know there has been criticism that the return to campus was too soon, and I hear that criticism. Several teachers – 17 yesterday and 16 today – did not return to work. I expect everyone will be back in their classrooms on Monday.  Each and every teacher is a vital part of the Wildcat community.

I viewed the return to campus as an important opportunity for students to grieve together, with the support of their teachers and counselors.  I stand by that decision, but I understand that there is not one correct answer.  Helping guide our students through this tragedy is one of the most important things we will do in our careers as educators, and that process began immediately on Monday and will continue indefinitely.  I have seen firsthand the love and commitment the teachers and staff at WCSD have for your students, and I know that each of you will rise to meet this moment.

Dr. Jerry Guess, Superintendent 

If your child is a close contact to a positive case outside of the district and has been quarantined by the ADH contact tracers, the parent should notify the principal's office and the districts POC (point of contact) of the quarantine immediately.  Nurse Rose Sullivent (POC) can be contacted at 870-550-4646.  We need everyone’s help to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff.