Needham Schools: Ready to Help Kids to Cope with Marathon Bombing Aftermath

This email went out Sunday night to parents of Needham students:

Dear Needham Families:

As we approach the beginning of a new week, let me take this opportunity to reassure you that we are prepared for a full day of classes tomorrow and will be able to provide the support some of our students may need to cope with last week's bombing at the Boston Marathon and its aftermath.  Please know that we will be ready to respond to any students who raise questions or who seem to be having any difficulties related to what occurred.  Parents who are concerned about their child or whose family has been affected by the tragedies should contact the school so that we can help your child.  

The following document, entitled A National Tragedy: Helping Children Cope, may provide parents and all caring adults with some ideas and age appropriate responses to recent events:  http://www.nasponline.org/resources/crisis_safety/terror_general.aspx

I learned of last week's events while I was traveling with Broadmeadow Principal Emily Gaberman to Beijing, China to visit schools in the Daxing School District where we are working to establish a formal partnership between our schools.  Initially our Chinese hosts expressed concern and sympathy for the terror attack and the deaths and injuries.  They wanted to make sure we were OK and did we know anyone who might have been directly impacted. We quickly learned, however, that a Chinese graduate student, whose family lives outside Beijing, was one of three bystanders killed.  It was our turn to express sympathy to our Chinese hosts and provided an opportunity for all of us to recognize our common humanity and connection to one another even though we were half a world away from a horrific incident that nevertheless hit close to home.

Now more than ever let's also work together to ensure that no group, ethnic or religious, is blamed or targeted for the evil and malevolent acts of one or two insidious individuals.  Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers go out to the victims and their families.

Let us know if we can assist your child or family.

Sincerely,

Dan Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools