The graffiti was documented and quickly cleaned up, Sicotte said.

A staff member found “the N word” written on a stall in a boys’ bathroom, principal Aaron Sicotte wrote in an e-mail sent to parents Thursday.

Needham High School is investigating yet another instance of racist graffiti found on school property.

Police were notified, and the assistant principals are investigating the incident. School officials are asking for students to report any information they know about the graffiti to a principal or another trusted adult.

Sicotte called the incident “disappointing and disheartening.”

“At Needham High School, we believe strongly in actively working toward ensuring that sense of safety and value for each member,” Sicotte said in the e-mail.


The incident is the fourth reported at the school in the last 13 months.

In December 2018, a student found racist, homophobic, and anti-Semitic grafitti in a different boys’ bathroom. In May 2018, a swastika was found near the entrance of the school. In December 2017, hundreds of students protested racist and homophobic grafitti.

Thursday’s incident came one day after the school’s annual One Day, a day of workshops where students engage in activities and conversations relating to topics including equity and access for all, Sicotte said.

Sicotte said One Day shows the school has “a significant number of invested and dedicated students, staff, and community members who are looking to positively shape Needham High School.”

“Today’s graffiti is a clear reminder of the need for and importance of this work,” he said.

Andrew Stanton can be reached at andrew.stanton@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @_andrewstanton.