It is with great sadness that I write this month’s
blog. Although December is a happy
time of year for kids and their parents, the tragedy in Connecticut has added a
heavy feeling of grief to the holiday, particularly among parents and educators. In the aftermath of such an unspeakable
horror, questions like “what”, “how”, and “why” are not easily answered by
anyone. I used this incident
as an opportunity to remind all our administrators to review and refresh their
individual emergency management plans and to remind staff of standard safety
protocol.
Educators across the state and country are now
ultrasensitive to any and all types of threats. Here at Central Cambria, I believe our staff is vigilant in
reporting, investigating and following up on any reported threat. We encourage students to tell an adult
anything they may have seen or heard, either in school or on any social media site.
I join the world when I offer my sincere condolences to the
families and relatives of those who were affected by this heinous act. As President Obama stated in his speech
at Newtown, CT:
"God has called them all home. For those of us
who remain, let us find the strength to carry on, and make our country worthy
of their memory.
"May God bless and keep those we’ve lost in His
heavenly place. May He grace those we still have with His holy comfort, and may
He bless and watch over this community, and the United States of America."
Experts suggest the following in light of any tragedy:
·
Parents should maintain as many routines as
possible; don’t abandon normal school or household rules (e.g., bedtime,
chores).
·
Be careful about sharing your own feelings of
shock and surprise, especially with younger children; rather, use private times
to ”debrief” with other adults.
·
Be prepared to offer support as children may
revisit old fears.
·
Don’t feel every question must be answered. This
may be an undue burden, and it is alright to say something like “We are not sure why this happened , but people are doing
everything to be sure it does not happen again.”
Our counselors, administrators and teachers are available to
any parent who has a concern about any anxiety their child or children may have
over this event. Please don’t
hesitate to contact the school if you feel the need.
Our goal will continue to be creating and maintaining a safe
environment for all students and staff. Enjoy the holidays – Merry Christmas
and Happy New Year!
Please hug your family and tell them you love them….
Dr. D.
