Arapahoe HS Mourns Loss Of Two Students

CENTENNIAL, CO – Two seniors at Arapahoe High School have died within a week, via suicide Littleton Public School officials said.

AHS senior Nick Bales died early on Sept. 29, according to a letter from Principal Natalie Pramenko. A second student, also a senior, died Tuesday evening, according to a second letter from Premenko. The causes of death were not specified. The district later acknowledged that the deaths were thought to be suicides.

UPDATE: Arapahoe HS Friday Football Game Cancelled to Honor Player Who Died

Arapahoe HS was open Wednesday for students starting at 9:30 a.m., but classes were cancelled. Instead students were allowed to watch movies, exercise in the gym or use the libraries. The school encouraged students to "be able to be together in a safe place to support one another and to find the friends they will be the most comfortable with," Pramenko said. Additionally, counselors and mental health professionals would be available Wednesday and for the rest of the week.

"Parents, please talk with and listen to your kids and their friends. Please seek help for them or for yourself if you need it," Pramenko said in the second letter.

Students and parents were encouraged to find grief resources online at the district's Family Support Services office.

The district said they would not be sharing further details, "out of respect for the families."

In the past two school years, the district has been hit by the deaths of several students. Last school year, Littleton Public Schools lost two students near the beginning of the school year when an Arapahoe High School student jumped off a parking garage structure and died and a Powell Middle School student died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at Twain Elementary. In January, 2017 another AHS student took her own life.

Here are the letters sent to families and students by Principal Pramenko:

October 3, 2018

Dear Arapahoe High School Community,

My heart breaks to tell you that an Arapahoe senior passed away last evening. There are no words to describe the grief we are experiencing. Like you, we are struggling with this loss. And while we, as adults, are grappling to understand, it’s important that we take care of our students, staff, and parents.

Arapahoe will be open all day Wednesday, October 3, 2018 to support students, staff, and parents. While it will not be an academic day, the school will be open at 9:30 a.m. as it is a late-start PLC Wednesday. Since many students will need some structure in their day, we will ask students to check in for attendance at the beginning of first hour. Once attendance has been taken, students will be given the opportunity to participate in alternative activities with supervision and engagement with adult staff. These alternative activities will include healthy activities in the gym, movies in the forum, study opportunities in the library, checking in with the counseling office, etc. Transportation and food services will operate as usual. We want students to be able to be together in a safe place to support one another and to find the friends they will be the most comfortable with.Additional counselors and mental health professionals will be here throughout the entire day. ALL students are welcome and encouraged to come to school. Parents may accompany their students to school. Parents must check in at the east/bubble entrance with campus supervisors. This is a safe place for our students and parents to be with their friends, to support one another, and to get help if they need it. If you choose to keep your students at home, we highly encourage you to remain with them.

Parents, please talk with and listen to your kids and their friends. Please seek help for them or for yourself if you need it. School mental health professionals can assist you or connect you to professionals in the community. We shared this link to resources on our website earlier this week: http://littletonpublicschools.net/.../family-support...

At this time, we intend for classes to resume on the regular schedule Thursday, October 4, 2018 and we will communicate again should this change. Additional mental health professionals will be at Arapahoe on Thursday and in the days to come for as long as we need.It is important that we come together tomorrow and in the days ahead to support one another. Hug your kids and tell them you love them. Our kids need us. Now more than ever, Warriors take care of one another.

With love,
Natalie Pramenko

September 30, 2018

Dear Arapahoe High School Community, It is with a heavy heart that I share with you that Nick Bales, an Arapahoe senior, passed away early Saturday morning. Losing a student is extremely difficult for all of us as we treasure every member of our Warrior community. Counselors and administrators, as well as members of our district support team, were available Saturday afternoon at Arapahoe. They will be available again Monday and in the days to come for students, staff, and community. We will begin the school day at 8:30 a.m. in our TRIBE classes on Monday (see special schedule below) where a common message and support will be shared with ourWarriors.Each of us responds to grief and loss in our own way and in our own time, and each of us will be affected differently by what has happened.
I hope you will take some time to process this as a family. There are many resources available for students and parents, and you do not have to go through this alone. I strongly encourage students to take advantage of our excellent counseling and mental health support services. Also remember that we have many resources on the district’s website:http://littletonpublicschools.net/.../family-support...
Please keep Nick’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you for always supporting the Arapahoe community.
Sincerely,
Natalie Pramenko
Principal, Arapahoe High School

If you are in need of mental health help, call Colorado Crisis Services at 1-844-493-8255 or text TALK to 38255.

Arapahoe High School asked parents to check Littleton Public Schools' list of local resources, including mental health services, and urged them to seek assistance for themselves or their children if needed. The list is located here.

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