How Wellesley is 'Getting Back to Normal' After Boston Marathon Bombing Manhunt

"It's been a traumatic week for us."

That was how Mary Bowers, of Wellesley's Council on Aging, captured the essence of a week that started with a bomb and ended with a Boston comeback: celebration after the capture of the Boston Marathon bombing suspect.

Bowers was among those to hand out cups of water to racers as they ran the Wellesley part of the Marathon route on Monday, along with seniors from Waterstone at Wellesley.

"I was hoping a lot of the runners we handed out water to didn't even get close to the finish line," Bowers said.

But now, she says, Wellesley is getting back to normal after what has been, for her "an exhausting week."

Though Wellesley is on the periphery of the area where people were asked to 'shelter in place' on Friday during the manhunt for the bombers, Bowers said many Wellesley residents followed the Wellesley Police's suggested guidelines closely — and stayed indoors all day.

"It's been a traumatic week for us; I never, ever thought anything like this would ever happen here," said the lifelong Wellesley resident.

"But," says Bowers, "I think everyone has a commitment to make the Marathon even better next year." 

Wellesley Schools to Take Their Cues from the Kids

'Back-to-normal' is also the goal for Wellesley schoolteachers and staff.

"We've found returning to a normal schedule," says Wellesley School Superintendent David Lussier, is one of the best things that can be done for Wellesley students who are back to school Monday after a week of spring break — and of unsettlingly violent disruption in Boston.

Lussier says the schools will "take their cues from the kids." Some come with questions and reaction; others just want to move on. "We will follow their lead."

But Lussier on Sunday also sent a note to parents and staff that included resources to use in case any student is struggling. Here is the note, sent on Sunday:

To the Wellesley Community,

Tomorrow, we welcome back our students and families from April vacation.  This has been a difficult week for all of us in the greater Boston area stemming from the bombings at the marathon on Monday. Wellesley has a special connection to the race both in terms of our location on the route and the fact that each year, most of us know someone running or volunteering.  With all of this in mind, this tragedy felt very personal as the eyes of the nation remained on greater Boston throughout the week.  While the capture of the second suspect late on Friday brought a welcomed sense of relief and closure, I think there was a shared feeling that we had been touched indelibly by these events.

Whether in the aftermath of the Newtown shootings in December or the events of the past week, our children have been exposed to challenging situations to discuss and interpret during the past five months.  As students return to class tomorrow, our staff will be ready to meet them with the knowledge that some will want to engage and process the events of the past week, while others may be ready to move on.  Our plan is to meet students wherever they are and to support their inquiry and reactions. 

It is never easy to process events that result in senseless injury.  The following are resources that I shared with staff earlier this week, as well as an updated document (attached) from Dr. Rob Evans and Dr. Mark Kline from the Human Relations Service (HRS) here in Wellesley.  I hope these resources provide us all with a foundation from which to speak to our children and students about these difficult events:

http://www.nasponline.org/resources/crisis_safety/terror_general.aspx
http://www.nasponline.org/resources/crisis_safety/talkingviolence.pdf
http://www.gse.harvard.edu/news-impact/2013/04/harvard-edcast-how-to-discuss-tragedy-with-children/

Finally, if there was a bright outcome this week, I believe it can be found in the renewed appreciation for the power of community and individuals standing in support of one another.  The strength of our community has been on display in the past week in so many ways and I believe this is something from which we can all draw strength and reassurance in the days ahead.  Thank you all for supporting our community and our students here in Wellesley. 

Best regards,
David Lussier
Superintendent of Schools