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Important Message Re: Sandy Hook Elementary School


Resources to Help Students and Staff
  • Talking to Your Students Following The Sandy Hook School Shooting: Guidelines for administrators, counselors and teachers
  • Talking With Children/Students About the Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting
  • Pdf version of letter from John. P. Welch

    • December 14, 2012

    Dear Puget Sound ESD Families and Friends,

    We were deeply saddened to learn of the shooting that occurred this morning at an elementary school in Connecticut. Reports are varying and information is emerging, but media is reporting that as many as 20 children and eight adults were killed in the attack. Our thoughts and prayers are with those children, their families and with our colleagues in Connecticut.

    In anticipation of media, student, and parental inquiries in our region our Communications Department has been coordinating parent letters and talking points for our school districts. For those programs providing direct services to school, you should review the information provided by the Communications Department in order to appropriately respond to your school community.

    It is a struggle for adults and children alike to try to comprehend why and how such a senseless and shocking incident could occur. Excessive and repeated media viewing can create increased anxiety and therefore limiting ongoing exposure is recommended. Districts are coordinating with schools and school guidance counselors to provide emotional support for students. Additionally, talking about the incident can be a healthy way for families to process their feelings and reactions to an event of this nature.

     

    How to help children cope:

    • Listen to and accept children's feelings.
    • Give honest, simple, brief answers to their questions.
    • Make sure they understand your answers and the meaning you intend.
    • Use words or phrases that won't confuse a child or make the world more frightening.
    • Create opportunities for children to talk with each other about what happened and how they are feeling.
    • Give your child an honest explanation. If you are feeling so upset you don't want to talk about what happened, you may want to take “time out” and ask a trusted family friend to help.
    • If children keep asking the same question over and over again it is because they are trying to understand; trying to make sense out of the disruption and confusion in their world. Younger children will not understand that death is permanent, so their repeated inquiries are because they expect everything to return to normal.
    • If the child feels guilty, ask him or her to explain what happened. Listen carefully to whether he or she attaches a sense of responsibility tosome part of the description. Explain the facts of the situation and emphasize that no one, least of all the child, could have prevented it.
    • Let the school help. The child's teacher can be sensitive to changes in the child's behavior and will be able to respond in a helpful way.
    • Even if you feel the world is an unsafe place, you can reassure your child by saying, “The event is over. Now we'll do everything possible to stay safe, and together we can help get things back to normal.”
    • Notice when children have questions and want to talk.
    • Be especially loving and supportive; children need you even more at this time.

    Please remember that our students and our communities look to us for strength in times of worry. Your leadership and your professionalism are among the greatest assets in our districts and our community. Thank you for all you do on behalf of our students, schools and families.

    Today is a tragic day. Our thoughts and hearts go out to the students, staff and families at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

    Sincerely,
    John P. Welch
    Superintendent
    (425) 917-7602