Dear Lafayette Families –
It is with a heavy heart that I share a tragic loss in our community over the weekend. On Saturday morning, it was shared with me that one of our students lost his father. I can’t imagine the trauma that has been weathered all weekend by the family, the neighborhood, and the circles of friends and neighbors within the community. As a school community, we have mobilized our resources and are prepared to support students and families in all ways we can. Below are different resources that are available:
- Teachers and staff have been briefed on the tragedy and provided resources to field student questions and needs.
- Our mental health team is at the ready on Monday morning to support any student who needs to talk, check in, process, or has questions.
- Think your child needs to talk or would you like us to check in with them? Please use this link to let us know! Request for support
- Our focus is to assure students that they are safe and loved. We will also provide them space and support in age appropriate ways to ask questions and process grief and/or confusion.
If you and/or your child are directly dealing with grief, trauma or tragedy, here are a few helpful hints:
- Allow children the space and time to grieve.
- It is okay for them so see you cry.
- Be flexible in the day’s agenda
- Allow children time to talk about the tragedy. (Remember, they will deal at their developmental level)
- Assist them in finding ways of expressing their grief (e.g., art, cards to the family, letter, scrapbook, picture, etc)
- Grief may be ongoing and expressed in different forms.
- Here are some additional resources on how to talk to your student about death:
We are sending all of our love and support to the student, his family, and all those that have been impacted by this tragedy. Thank you to those of you who have already been instrumental in our support of the family and the response for our community. We are here. Please let us know how we can help. Request for support
With love and support,
Dr. B