The following letter was sent to parents and students of Walter Johnson and Bethesda-Chevy Chase High Schools on Monday.
“Dear Members of the Walter Johnson High School and Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School Communities,
This is a joint message from the principals of Walter Johnson High School and Bethesda-Chevy Chase High Schools.
We wanted to let our communities know that several serious incidents occurred after the playoff football game on Friday, November 5, between our two schools at the B-CC campus.
Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School Students taunted Walter Johnson High School students and vandalized the bus transporting Walter Johnson players as they attempted to return to their home campus. Following this, there were reports of an altercation involving multiple students in downtown Bethesda.
While both schools had many administrators, security and police present on campus before, during, and after the game, it is essential to know that these events happened off-campus. The Montgomery County Police Department was engaged immediately and responded and are investigating these incidents.
The alleged behaviors are alarming and unacceptable and not aligned with either school’s guidelines for responsible behavior. Student safety is of paramount importance and we expect all students to represent the highest examples of proper behavior as representatives of our individual school communities. We can be athletic rivals safely and respectfully.
The administration at both schools will be working collaboratively in the coming days to repair the harm done and work towards understanding and unify