Overcoming Anti-Semitism at MHS

 By Phoebe Bakeman

On January 10th, 2025, a few weeks away from the end of the semester, Montpelier High School met during TA for an assembly about hate and Antisemetism at the school. 

On Thursday, January 9th, an email was sent out to the MHS staff, informing them that swastikas had been found drawn on the upstairs all-gender bathroom walls. The assembly followed the next day. 

Principal Jason Gingold expressed “sadness and disappointment” at finding these acts of hate. He believes that a mixture of kindness and strong boundaries are the way to move forward.

“We need to realize that we work with humans, and we will make mistakes,” Principal Gingold said in an interview on Tuesday, January 14th.

The administration has notified the police about the incident, and investigations are ongoing. The Anti-Defamation League was apprised, a report was entered with the Federal Department of Education, and staff and students alike have been holding restorative circles to talk about the way forward.

"The school’s main emphasis should be community", says Jessica Murray, a district employee of social emotional learning.

She hopes that people will see these incidents “as a sign that we need to focus on a sense of community and belonging, rather than ostracizing people.” 

“We all live in this space,” says Principal Gingold, “how do we want to breathe and live and be treated in this space?”