January 11, 2024 Update:
Dear Students, Families, Faculty, and Staff,
As you may know, in late October, it was discovered and reported to school administration that the Mechanicsville High School (MHS) football field had been vandalized with graffiti, including a swastika, an obscene symbol of pure hate and intolerance that has no place in our society and stands in direct opposition to the principles of unity, respect, and inclusion that we hold dear at MHS and across our school division. Since that time, our valued partners at the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office have investigated this vandalism.
Earlier today, the Sheriff’s Office announced that two juveniles have been identified and arrested in relation to this reprehensible and thoughtless act. On behalf of Hanover County Public Schools, I would like to express our deepest gratitude to the Sheriff’s Office for their unrelenting dedication to holding those responsible for this disgraceful act accountable.
As Mr. Charles Stevens, Mechanicsville High School’s Principal, and I shared in October, we condemn this vile act of vandalism, antisemitism, and all forms of hatred in the strongest possible terms. It is an affront to the very principles and values that we stand for as a school and as a school division. Mechanicsville High School and all 26 schools in HCPS are places of learning, growth, and respect. We remain committed to being a school division where all students, faculty, staff, and community members feel welcome, valued, and safe.
Thank you for your continued support of our school division and for joining us in our commitment to inclusion and respect for all members of our school community and beyond.
Sincerely,
Dr. Michael Gill
Superintendent of Schools
Hanover County Public Schools
Original October 30, 2023 Message:
Dear Students, Families, Faculty, and Staff,
Earlier today, it was discovered and reported to school administration that our football field had been vandalized with graffiti. To our disbelief, this vandalism included a swastika. This obscene symbol of pure hate and intolerance has no place in our society and stands in direct opposition to the principles of unity, respect, and inclusion that we hold dear at our school and across our school division.
We immediately reported this incident to our valued partners with the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office and they are investigating.
If you have any information that could assist in the investigation, please contact the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office at (804) 365-6140. We are fully committed to holding those responsible for this disgraceful and unthinkable act accountable for their actions. Additionally, we took immediate steps to remove the graffiti from the field.
This vandalism is not only an attack on school property but an affront to the very principles and values that we stand for as a school and as a school division. We condemn this vile act of vandalism, antisemitism, and all forms of hatred in the strongest possible terms. Mechanicsville High School and all 26 schools in HCPS are places of learning, growth, and respect. We are committed to being a school division where all students, faculty, staff, and community members feel welcome, valued, and safe. Again, we unequivocally denounce this vandalism and the hateful symbol used.
In closing, we will not let these reprehensible and thoughtless actions define who we are as a school or school division. Rather, we reaffirm our commitment to inclusion for all members of our school community and respect for one another. Thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Stevens
Principal
Mechanicsville High School
Dr. Michael Gill
Superintendent of Schools
Hanover County Public Schools