QR to request counseling for your JICS student
September 11, 2025
Dear James Irwin Charter Schools Staff and Families,
As the Board of Directors and the entire leadership team at James Irwin, we want to reach out today on this very important day with remembrance, reflection, and care. Today marks the 24th anniversary of the attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. We pause to remember all those who lost their lives in that tragedy, and the many more who were forever changed. We honor the heroes, first responders, military, and ordinary people who stepped forward and those who continue to suffer the after-effects in so many ways. For those who were very young then, or were not yet born, we hope you never have to live through anything like this. We owe a deep gratitude to those who gave everything in that moment, and for all the service, sacrifice, and courage in the 24 years since. We are thankful beyond words to our armed forces and first responders, past and present, who continue to protect, serve, heal, and give us hope.
Yesterday we were again reminded of how fragile life can be. The assassination of Charlie Kirk and the school shooting in Evergreen both brought sadness and grief, not only to those directly impacted but to all of us who care about the safety of our communities. Violence in places of learning and gathering shakes our sense of security, and our hearts go out to those families and communities who are now mourning and trying to heal.
On this day of remembrance, we are reminded that threats come from many directions. Many of us think first of attacks from beyond our borders, but increasingly, we are confronted with violence from within. This reality makes our commitment to safety, understanding, empathy, and community even more essential. We want you to know that we have counselors on site in each of our schools. If your child needs to talk, to share fears or confusion, or simply needs someone to listen, we are ready. We have included a QR code below that will take you to a link for counseling services. We also want you to know that we take safety very seriously. This includes physical safety protocols, trained staff, and building a school culture where students feel seen, respected, and cared for. Warning signs matter, and it is our shared responsibility to recognize and respond to them.
In November we will schedule a town hall style meeting for staff and parents to talk openly about school safety: what we are doing now, what we can improve, what warning signs to watch for, and how each of us can contribute to protecting our students. We encourage you to talk with your children, listen to their feelings, answer questions honestly in ways they can understand, and reassure them that adults are working every day to keep them safe.
We know how heavy all of this is. We grieve for lives lost, for those injured, and for families and communities that have been impacted. Yet we hold onto hope—hope that together we can grow stronger, more compassionate, more alert, and more intentional in protecting our children. Thank you for trusting us with your children, for partnering with us, and for standing alongside us in this mission. And again, thank you to our military families and first responders whose sacrifices allow us to carry on each day.
With gratitude, sorrow, and hope,
On behalf of the James Irwin Board of Directors
And all of the School Leadership,
Rob Daugherty, CEO
