Death of Ridge HS Junior, Martha Moye, Announced Tuesday

Basking Ridge, NJ -- Ridge High School eleventh grader Martha Moye died Tuesday, March 29, Principal Frank Howlett announced in a letter to families.

"We know that the community will be affected by this tragic loss," Howlett stated in the letter sent out around 9:30 p.m.

As a result of this tragic event, the school announced all Ridge junior conferences are canceled for Wednesday, March 30 so that all counselors can be available for children.

Emotions and anxiety about death may arise in children and Howlett urges parents to listen to their child's feelings and answer their questions open and honestly.

The school offered some resources that may be beneficial in assisting parents to understand the grieving process from a child’s point of view and to open the lines of communication:

• American Counseling Association - Grief Reactions over the Lifespan
• Children’s Grief Education Association – Words that can help/hurt
• Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth – Grief reactions/helpful responses

Parents are also urged to encourage their son or daughter to go to the Counseling Department/Child Study Team if they need someone to help them process their grief.

"In this very sad time, it is important that we pull together to support one another," Howlett stated.