Parents,
This is a great time to be with your student. Our students are going through genuine grief and are in need of parents plus their school and their friends to get through this. You are an important part of the process of going through this grief. Your role is one that no one else in the world can play. Students need you to walk through this with them, and this memorial service may serve as an important milestone on this journey for your student.
As a school community, we are your partners. We are walking it out with you guys. We have been working to meet with students who have been impacted by this loss. Please reach out to us if you see signs that your student is not making forward progress in dealing with this loss. Here are a couple of things to watch for:
- A
loss in appetite or a desire to over eat. Roughly, any major
changes in this department are pointing to food being a coping mechanism
for the work that the heart is not undertaking.
- A
disturbance in sleep patterns. Nights on end of tossing and
turning are going to be a threat to your student's ability to process this
loss. This is normal early in the process, but if you see it
continue in the weeks ahead, it may be time to get some help.
- Excessive
isolation and a downcast spirit. Of course, this is normal in
the early days, but a continuous effort to engage your kid can keep this
from being a weight that will drag your child down weeks from now.
Go for walks. Break out the fishing poles. Whatever you can do
to engage, do it. This is an awful time for your student, but this
may very well be the time they look back on as a 28 year old and say,
"Man, my parent was awesome to me when I lost my friend."
- Making
comments about self harm. If your radar goes off, there is
probably something to it. Things like, "I wish I were dead..."
or "You won't have me to deal with anymore..." can be signs that
your student or one of his friends is contemplating self harm. If
you are scared and want advice, call Mr. Kulp or Ms. Holton at SCHS.
If you feel that quick response is needed, call 1 (800) 273-8255 or an
emergency room at a hospital has folks who work there who can evaluate the
situation and give you advice, usually at no cost.
This tragedy has been hard on our students, yet it is
opening up doors to talk and grow. As a parent, you are able to be the
force for that growth. Linked below is a list of counseling resources in
the area that you may find helpful as you seek to love your son or daughter in
every way. Your SC Family loves your individual family!
