Chap Schools to Help Kids Cope with Newtown Shooting

(Editor's Note: Below is a copy of a Sunday update email sent out by Chappaqua Superintendent Lyn McKay and each school's principal concerning how the district will help kids cope with the Newtown, CT school shooting):

As we continue to struggle to comprehend Friday's terrible events in Newtown, CT, I know I speak for all the district's staff when I say we are keeping those families directly impacted by this tragedy in our thoughts and in our hearts.

I am writing today because some of our families have asked how and if this difficult subject might be raised in our schools on Monday. While it is impossible to anticipate exactly what will happen in every classroom throughout the school day, here is what we are planning.

At each school, the staff will meet together before students arrive, to share and discuss strategies for how best to support students. The same National Association of School Psychologist guidelines that I sent to you on Friday will be reviewed with staff, and with the support of our district psychologists, we will anticipate those questions students are likely to ask. Finally, each school will be sure that it is prepared to identify and support any and all students who might be having a particularly hard time.

While it is most appropriate for individual families to discuss the tragedy at home in the ways they feel are appropriate for their children, at school, our efforts will be focused on creating the safe, nurturing, and normal routines to which our students are accustomed. Teachers will not go out of their way to raise the subject. It is likely, however, that students will ask questions and may look to their teachers for answers. If and when that happens, teachers will give answers that are age appropriate and that comfort students. They will keep any such conversations short and will then return the class to the lesson at hand.

Please know that all our district safety procedures are reviewed on a regular basis, that school and district safety teams will all be meeting in the coming days to review plans again, and that we remain in close contact with our local police. While we can and will always work to strengthen what I believe is already a very good system for safety and security, it is most important at this time that we offer our students every reassurance that our schools are safe places.

We look forward to welcoming your children tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Lyn McKay, Superintendent
Amy Fishkin, Principal, Roaring Brook Elementary School
Mike Kirsch, Principal, Douglas Grafflin Elementary School
Jim Skoog, Principal, Westorchard Elementary School
Martha Zornow, Principal, Seven Bridges Middle School
Martin Fitzgerald, Principal, Robert E. Bell Middle School
Robert Rhodes, Principal, Horace Greeley High School