Message from the Superintendent
Dear Parents and Guardians:

Many of you may be aware of the tragic school shooting Friday at an elementary school in Connecticut. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of the victims' families and the many educators who have been devastated by this senseless act.

Please be assured that the safety of your children is our top priority and that our schools have regular practice drills to prepare our students and staff in the event we should ever find ourselves in a situation needing to protect our children.

There is extensive coverage on local and national news outlets and social media sites, and this is likely to continue in the coming days. Therefore, we want to share with you some tips from the National Association of School Psychologists for helping your children cope with this news:

1. Focus on your children today and over the next week. Tell them you love them and everything will be okay. Try to help them understand what has happened, keeping in mind their developmental level.
2. Make time to talk with your children. Remember if you do not talk to your children about this incident someone else will. Take some time and determine what you wish to say.
3. Limit your child's television viewing of these events. If they must watch, watch with them for a brief time; then turn the set off. Don't sit mesmerized re-watching the same events over and over again.
4. Maintain a "normal" routine. To the extent possible stick to your family's normal routine for dinner, homework, chores, bedtime, etc., but don't be inflexible. Children may have a hard time concentrating on schoolwork or falling asleep at night.
5. If you have concerns about your child's reaction to this news, please contact your child's principal or administrator, social worker or school psychologist.

Larry Kauzlarich, Supt.