Hello, I am Superintendent Dr. Calvin J. Watts. In addition to leading Gwinnett County Public Schools, I am a parent. As a parent, I am reaching out to you regarding social media trends we are seeing that are troubling. Lately, a number of students have made threats toward others on social media. In addition, you may have heard about recent TikTok challenges that have circulated on social media encouraging students to engage in inappropriate and destructive behavior.

In September, the “Devious Lick” challenge focused on vandalism, inciting students to steal something from their school. Unfortunately, several students in the district participated in this type of behavior. Those students faced disciplinary action and criminal charges when appropriate.

In October, a new social media challenge has emerged, calling for students to slap a teacher on the backside. Let me be very clear. Each and every person, especially each teacher, deserves our utmost respect and this behavior will not be tolerated. Encouraging others to strike another person is not funny. It is not appropriate to behave in this manner toward anyone, much less a teacher. In fact, it is sexual assault and will be treated as such in our school district.

As a fellow parent and someone who cares deeply about our students, I ask that you speak with your children about their social media use, the types of behaviors and “challenges” they see on social media, and the decisions they make and actions they take. One of the most important actions we can take as adults is to help our young people develop their instincts… instincts that can serve them well in the real world and in the online world. Please continue to help your children understand that, while social media can help them to feel connected, not all information or people on social media can be trusted. Explain to them that they are responsible for their own words and actions on social media and that many of those actions may follow them for the remainder of their educational and professional careers. And, as a result, they need to realize that some behaviors encouraged on social media can get them into trouble… at home, at school, and even with the police.

If you would like more information about these types of social media challenges or ideas on how to talk to your children about their social media use, please contact your school.

I want you to know that this communication comes from a place of love and compassion for each and every student, as well as for the adults who love them, who believe in them, and who want them to thrive as successful GCPS students and beyond. Thank you for partnering with our schools as we work to support our students. Together we can help each of our students be successful in school and in life.

In partnership and service,

Dr. Calvin J. Watts, Superintendent

Dear Brookwood Student and Parents, 

At Brookwood High School, we are a community of UPSTANDERS and we value doing the right thing.  I consider the students at Brookwood to be mature and respectful.  A trend on TikTok that promotes stealing items from school, damaging school property, mistreating others, and other despicable behavior is trending in schools across the country.  The few students who may choose to break the rules does not accurately reflect the student body as a whole at Brookwood.  We are better than this.  Any person who chooses to make this mistake is putting themselves at risk for serious consequences both at school and possibly with law enforcement.  

Knowing that we are a school that values integrity and good, we are providing a private link for anyone in the building to submit information that will help us identify anyone who is breaking the rules concerning this TikTok trend and participating in this type of behavior.  If you see something, please CLICK HERE to share this information.  We need your eyes and support to prevent and eliminate this behavior.  

Thank you to the thousands of students who do the right thing every day and who respect our school and each other.  

Sincerely,
William Bo Ford, Jr.
Principal, Brookwood High School

Start off the school year with all the right communication tools at your disposal.

For those of you who have not already applied for a parent portal account:

• If you're not sure if you have an active account, simply click this link and use your email address as the username to attempt to reset your password.
• If the system does not recognize your email address, then please complete a parent portal application form and email it along with a scan of your photo ID to bhsconnects@gcpsk12.org.  
• If you already have an active parent portal account, sure to check that we have your correct parent contact information. Here is the link to log in.

Please see the attached about 1) signing up for the Friday newsletter, 2) following the school on social media, 3) ensuring you receive important text notifications from Gwinnett County Public Schools, and 4) applying for a parent portal account.

It's also helpful to bookmark the school website www.brookwoodhighschool.net on your home computer and mobile phone.