[CabotCommunity] (no subject)

[Jo Doherty]

The Cabot PTO has been asked to send this out to the Cabot community by Dr.
Quarcoo, Cabot Prinicipal:

 

 

Dear Cabot Community,

 

The events at Virginia Tech last week have touched our lives as a nation.I
want to share some insights to help you think about how you handle 

discussions or reactions from your children in the days and weeks ahead.

 

In the wake of this most recent tragedy, children and adults alike may have
heightened concerns about a basic sense of safety and security.  A 

child's response to traumatic events is shaped by their age, developmental
level, temperament, prior experiences of loss or trauma 

and the reactions of the adults around them.  School-aged children may raise
concerns about their own safety and the safety of family members 

and friends, and express feelings of fear, anxiety, sadness, and anger.
Parents play a critical role in supporting their children in feeling a 

general sense of safety in their community and world.

 

As a school we have informed all staff and faculty of our expectations in
handling comments that may come from children. We do not initiate 

conversations about these debilitating events but we must be prepared to
respond as some children react to information they may have 

obtained. As a rule, teachers are instructed to be developmentally
appropriate by acknowledging sadness. They are encouraged to use 

phrases like: yes, that was sad and this is something you and I can talk
about together. We also offer them the services of our support 

staff if children need to talk or seem preoccupied with the event. We will
inform a family if your child has been spoken to by Dr Keough or 

Ms. Kass. We always want children to feel that they can bring their concerns
and worries to school but we also want to maintain a climate 

in the school and each instructional area that is respectful of young
children and their needs.

 

Dr Keough, school psychologist has prepared the following suggestions for
helping children cope with tragic events are adapted from the 

National Association of School Psychologists fact sheet on Promoting
Resiliency in Your Child: A Tip Sheet for Parents and from Dr. Diane 

Levin's Teaching Young Children in Violent Times: Building a Peaceable
Classroom (2nd Ed.)

 

Be calm and supportive-Children will typically become more upset and worried
as the adults around them are upset and worried. Parents can give children a
safe space to share their feelings and suggest strategies that have their
children feel better in the past to cope with stress.

 

Offer realistic reassurances-Help children understand that adults in their
community and in the world are working hard to make things safe.

 

Be prepared to answer questions-If questions arise, share factual
information that is appropriate for your child's developmental level 

and take time to think about how you want to frame these events. Young
children's thinking tends to be concrete and egocentric so they may mostly
focus on their personal safety, while older children are beginning to make
broader connections about events and their world. 

Follow your child's lead in discussing these events and clarify
misconceptions as needed.

 

Limit Media Exposure/TV Viewing-This is especially important for younger
children and some children may cope better by completing avoiding these
reports.

 

Be on the lookout for signs of stress- Changes in behavior such as increased
aggression or withdrawal, difficulty separating or sleeping, 

or troubles at transition times are all signs that additional supports are
needed. Protecting children from violent media images, maintaining 

routines, providing reassurance and extra hugs can help children regain
equilibrium.

 

Some additional resources about Helping Children Cope with Violence and
National Tragedy:

www.aacap.org -American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

www.nasponline.org-Website for the National Association for School 

Psychologists

 

Ms Gerson, the librarian also can be a resource if you want books or
literature for yourself. As always the school is a place of support for
families. In these times, we have learned to increase our capacity to be
helpful. Please keep in mind that a school crisis team exists.

 

I am confident that we can maintain an environment that focuses on learning
and healthy development for all children. Please contact me or 

Dr.Keough or Ms Kass should you need some help!

 

Sincerely,

 

Marilynne Smith Quarcoo, Ph. D.

Principal

Cabot School

229 Cabot Street

Newtonville, Massachusetts 02460

 

marilynne_quarcoo at newton.k12.ma.us

Tel: 617.559.9400

Fax: 617.552.5584

 

 

 

Jo Doherty

Cabot PTO Co-President

11 Leonard Avenue,

West Newton, MA 02465

617-332-1530

jcdoherty11 at comcast.net

 

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