Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Dear Weld Re-8 Staff, Families, and Community Members,
Today's news of a school shooting in a neighboring district, along with other recent tragedies across the country is both heartbreaking and unsettling. Our thoughts are with the students, families, and staff of Jefferson County Public Schools as they navigate this difficult time. Events like this bring our deepest fears to the forefront, and I want to share the steps we took today as well as our ongoing commitment to ensuring school safety.
Shortly after the incident began, local law enforcement immediately notified district leadership. Together, we reviewed our safety protocols and, in collaboration with local law enforcement, determined that there was no immediate threat to our schools. Principals were promptly informed and received updates as the situation unfolded to ensure everyone remained alert. I am incredibly grateful to our school resource officers, and our law enforcement partners for their immediate and vigilant response. Their commitment to safety is a testament to their dedication to our community.
We recognize the importance of being prepared for these difficult situations. Our staff has been trained in our Standard Response Protocols, and we have been working to share this knowledge with our families and community. To date, we have held two of the six scheduled Standard Response Protocol trainings for families, with four more to come. As a district, we are continually focused on strengthening safety measures. We know these conversations can be challenging, especially with children, but we encourage you to attend a session. These safety trainings provide valuable information about the protocols in place to keep our students safe.
We also want to remind you that support is available for students who may be struggling to process recent events. Please encourage your child to reach out to their school counselor/psychologist/social worker if they need someone to talk to.
In times like these, it is crucial that we remain vigilant. If you have any concerns or need to report something, please do not hesitate to contact your school administrator, one of our school resource officers, your local police department, or myself. Families can also access additional safety information and resources through the I Love U Guys Foundation. In addition, students and community members can use Safe2Tell to anonymously report any concern or incident that could impact the safety of our schools.
Sincerely,
Dr. Justin E. Ralston
Superintendent