We are all devastated and heartbroken by the tragedy that took place in Uvalde, Texas yesterday at Robb Elementary School. A school shooting that involves students and staff members is one of our worst fears. It's important that we all remember to support each other, as well as our students, during these truly upsetting and troubling times.
Because our students are young, we are not initiating discussions here at school about what happened in Uvalde. However, we don't know what our students may have heard or even seen online about yesterday’s events. If any students feel compelled to talk about what happened (or what they heard happened), we will gently remind them that all teachers and staff at school are trained to do everything that we can to keep them safe and that the students should talk with their parents at home about any questions or concerns they may have. If any students are really upset, our school psychologist, Mrs. Stepsis, is ready to support them and reach out to their families.
If families are looking for ways to discuss the recent events with their children, this resource from the National Association of School Psychologists titled “School Violence Prevention: Tips for Parents & Educators” may be a helpful place to start; https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-safety-and-crisis/school-violence-resources/school-violence-prevention/school-violence-prevention-tips-for-parents-and-educators
Thank you,
Mr. Barrette