Dear
Parents,
The
Prairie community extends our deepest sympathies, thoughts, and prayers to the
victims and their families of the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut which
occurred yesterday.
Please
know that the safety of students and staff is the top priority in our school
and district, and while there is no plan that can totally prevent a random act
of senseless violence, our school and district has a safety plan in place that
is regularly reviewed by law enforcement authorities. To ensure staff and students are clear on
safety procedures, safety drills such as fire, severe weather, and lockdown,
are practiced regularly. Our drills are
attended by local authorities who provide feedback about the efficiency of our
drills and suggestions for improvement if necessary. In that unspeakable tragedies of this nature
provide lessons for learning, we will review our safety plans and implement changes as
appropriate.
Prairie
staff yesterday was without question heartbroken about this tragedy. It is unfathomable the loss of all lives at
Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Understandably, this tragedy has evoked many feelings of sadness,
anxiety, grief, and anger. For everyone
struggling with these thoughts and feelings, we offer these suggestions:
· Limit media exposure. Limit your
child's exposure to media images and sounds of the shooting, and do not allow
your very young children to see or hear any TV/radio shooting-related messages.
Even if they appear to be engrossed in play, children often are aware of what
you are watching on TV or listening to on the radio. What may not be upsetting
to an adult may be very upsetting and confusing for a child. Limit your own
exposure as well. Adults may become more distressed with nonstop exposure
to media coverage of this shooting.
· What does your child already
know? Start by asking what your child/teen already has heard about the
event from the media and from friends. Listen carefully; try to figure out what
he or she knows or believes. As your child explains, listen for misinformation,
misconceptions, and underlying fears or concerns. Understand that this
information will change as more facts about the event are known.
· Gently correct inaccurate information. If
your child/teen has inaccurate information or misconceptions, take time to
provide the correct information in simple, clear, age-appropriate language.
· Encourage your child to ask
questions, and answer those questions directly. Your child/teen may have some
difficult questions about the incident. For example, he/she may ask if it is
possible that it could happen at their school; he/she is probably really asking
whether it is "likely." The concern about re-occurrence will be an
issue for caregivers and children/teens alike. While it is important to discuss
the likelihood of this risk, he/she is also asking if he/she is safe.
· Be patient. In times of stress,
children/teens may have trouble with their behavior, concentration, and
attention. While they may not openly ask for your guidance or support, they
will want it. Adolescents who are seeking increased independence may have
difficulty expressing their needs. Both children and teens will need a little
extra patience, care, and love. Be patient with yourself, too.
Additional information and resources are available online
from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, www.nctsn.org.
If you or your child needs additional support, please contact our school
social worker, Miss Erin Sauer at esauer@kcsd96.org
or myself at cpfaff@kcsd96.org. Also,
please check Superintendent Schmidt's posting from this yesterday afternoon for a bit
more information.
