November 4, 2012
Dear North Salem Central School District Families:
It is difficult to express the pain and grief we all feel regarding the tragic loss of Jack Baumler and Michael Robson. These deaths have affected us all deeply.
As we return to school next week, we want to share with you what we are doing to support the students and faculty. We know that students and staff will react in different ways to this tragedy. We all should expect and try to understand that there will be a variety of emotions and responses to what has occurred. The most important thing we can do is to be supportive and encourage an open expression of feelings.
At school, we have created plans for responding to this tragic event focused on helping our students and faculty get back to regular learning and every day activities as soon as possible. This plan was created by our School and District Crisis Teams with support from mental health professionals from BOCES.
The faculty at both schools have been briefed on our plans and will receive guidelines for discussing the deaths and reactions to them. District personnel will be available to students who need special attention and support. We will try to maintain as normal a routine and structure as the day will allow and we encourage you to do the same. The only change to the schedule is that all middle school and high school students will report directly to homeroom on the morning we return to school.
Below we have listed some links to resources that might be helpful to you as you deal with this tragedy as a family. We know you will join us in our concern and sympathy for these families.
Respectfully,
Kenneth Freeston Ph.D. Patricia P. Cyganovich Ed.D. Superintendent Principal
Mary K. Johnson George Bovino Ed.D.
Principal Assistant Principal
The Dougy Center
http://www.dougy.org/grief-resources/
NASP Resources
http://www.nasponline.org/resources/crisis_safety/helpingchildrencope.aspx