To those who made the choice to break in and steal from the students at Bowmar Elementary School, we have hope for you.
To those who stole from our children and the tools used in their education, we have hope for you.
Our hope is you will return what you stole, that you come forward, face the consequences of your decision and move on with bettering your life.
Our hope is you will choose a different path, one that is focused on self-improvement, and turns away from decisions that led to theft, crime and thus, those consequences.
The theft reported at Bowmar will not stop the teachers from teaching their students.
The theft will not stop administrators from providing the safety and security needed to ensure a strong learning environment.
The theft will not stop the leadership at the Vicksburg Warren School District from giving Bowmar the resources and support needed for having a successful school year.
And, the theft will not stop the investments the parents and the community have routinely made in Bowmar and the other schools in our community.
Your theft did little to damage the day-to-day education at this Lighthouse school.
To those who stole from our children, only you know the life decisions that led you to steal.
And while the things you stole can be replaced, some of the innocence our school children had cannot.
For teachers, administrators and parents, the decision to steal from our children has forced them into difficult conversations about why people would do such a thing. They have had to reassure their students, their children of their safety, which is something no one should ever have to worry about.
At Bowmar, students learn the 7 Habits, one of which is “Seek First To Understand, Then To Be Understood.”
It is difficult for anyone to understand right now why you made a decision to steal from our students. It is our hope the reasons of such a poor decision are one day understood — by you.