Memorial Gathering for James Lizardo

For middle school students and eighth graders in particular, the days and weeks to come will be difficult.  If your child feels he or she cannot attend school it’s OK to keep them home.  Others may have a strong need to be together and school is a good place for that.

As a parent, you may want to talk to your child about death because it impacts each person in different ways. How children react will depend on the relationship they had with James, their age, level of development, and their prior experience with death. Your child may appear unaffected, ask questions about the death repeatedly, be angry or aggressive, be withdrawn or moody, be sad or depressed, become fearful or scared, or have difficulty sleeping or eating. If they want to talk, answer their questions simply, honestly and be prepared to answer the same questions repeatedly.

We will plan a memorial service at school in the coming days and as the details take shape, I will let you know.

Our school is a loving and caring community and we will support each other in the best ways we can in the difficult days ahead.