A letter to parents & carers : Social media trend

Wed 18 Mar 2026
Dear Parents/Carers

I am writing to you today to directly address the recent social media trend referred to as ‘School Wars.’ We are aware of the posts circulating online linking different schools around the country to acts of violence against each other.  This is very worrying and we know in some communities has caused significant anxiety.   This is being described as a phantom trend.  Our understanding is that there have been no actual fights anywhere in the country, but parents/carers are quite right reacting to these negative messages. 

Addressing Social Media Misinformation: It has become clear that a small number of individuals - primarily from outside our school community - are fueling this negative commentary online.  These individuals are using the 'School Wars' tag to incite fear and violence. 

We are keeping a close eye on social media and we ask that you check your child’s devices and speak to them about the seriousness of the acts that are described in the posts.  Check their WhatsApp, Snapchat, TikTok and other social media platforms. These posts are inciting violence and a negative view of young people and we have to end this rhetoric. 

If your child does show you any posts in relation to this please:
  • Screen capture the message
  • Report this to the platform
  • Report this to the Police 
  • Report this to school so we can share clear messages and link in the correct agencies. 
  • We ask you don’t share these negative messages on public forums, as this can inadvertently spread the fear these individuals are seeking to create.

If you know of a fight happening now dial 999, if you hear of a planned fight dial 101.

Unsubstantiated Claims: To date, there is no evidence to suggest these online references are credible. However, the safety of our students is our number one priority, and we will not tolerate outside interference that disrupts their peace of mind. 

We encourage all students to attend as normal, and we will continue to maintain a vigilant and supportive environment. 

We are grateful to the parents and carers who have passed on messages and information already.  This is what makes our community strong.

Recent media coverage:
 
Regards

Michelle Colledge-Smith
Principal


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