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UMA Community,
Thank you for a smooth start to the school year, we appreciate your continued partnership in your child’s education, and your commitment to keeping the UMA community safe.
You may be aware that schools across the nation, along with COVID, are dealing with various TikTok trends. September was the month of “devious licks”, a trend of vandalism and theft that targeted bathroom fixtures and other school property. UMA had minor infractions around this trend.
Unfortunately, there is a monthly calendar circulating on TikTok that outlines the trends for the remainder of the school year. We need your partnership again, as October’s challenge is particularly dangerous. This month’s school activity according to TikTok is “slap a staff member on the back, and pretend it was an accident.” Please speak to your child and remind them that UMA is a learning community that comes from a place of respect for others. This behavior, circulated on TikTok, is considered assault and will not be tolerated. Any behavior of this kind warrants a suspension and further disciplinary action including, but not limited to assault charges.
Pg 26 of the UMA Student Family Handbook defines the act and the subsequent consequences.
Definitions:
Assault: Physical - Acting with intent to cause fear in another person of immediate bodily harm or death, or intentionally bullying, inflicting or attempting to inflict bodily harm upon another person. Any intentional, harmful or potentially harmful physical contact or bullying initiated by a student against a staff member will be considered to be assault.
Refusing to obey an order to cease striking, hitting, or attacking another student with the intent to cause physical harm.
Bodily Harm, Inflicting - Committing a reckless act or negligent act that inflicts bodily harm upon another person.
We know that some adolescents are more likely to engage in risky behaviors as a function of their developmental stage, but we also know that all teenagers are capable of making good decisions, especially those at UMA. Our staff will discuss this trend in Advisory with students and the possible consequences if they choose to make a poor choice.
We appreciate your partnership and look forward to the remainder of the school year.
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