Omar Bakri www.kentwoodps.

org
Principal P: (616) 698-6700
6230 Kalamazoo Avenue F: (616) 698-2384
Kentwood, MI 49508

August 24, 2023

Dear East Kentwood Families,

It is important for us to share information with you, especially when student safety is
involved, and that is why I am writing this letter to you this afternoon.

Today an incident involving two students in a hallway took place in our school and was
captured on video by students and, subsequently, shared on social media. First and
foremost, we want to say that the actions that took place in the hallway were disturbing and
unacceptable. They do not represent the beliefs and values of East Kentwood High School
or Kentwood Public Schools.

We want to assure you that we are investigating this matter fully to discover what led up to
the incident, and we will respond in the appropriate manner to address this situation. We
are working with our school resource officer, in partnership with the Kent County Sheriff’s
Office, in this investigation, along with the Kentwood Safety Department. This type of
behavior, regardless of any circumstance, is not tolerated at East Kentwood High School.

We have high expectations when it comes to student behavior, even if students encounter
difficult situations. We will continue to support our students in understanding these
expectations and living up to them.

We ask parents, as our partners in education, to please take this opportunity to speak with
your children about what to do when conflicts arise in order to handle them appropriately.
This includes seeking out a trusted adult in our building to speak with before issues get out
of hand. We appreciate your support in this matter.

Sincerely,

Omar Bakri
Principal
East Kentwood High School
Kentwood Public Schools

Excellence and Equity in Education