Bedford Schools Take A Moment to Honor, Remember Victims of Marathon Bombings

Upon returning to classes after a week of vacation, students and faculty at Bedford High School and John Glenn Middle School held a moment of silence Monday morning for the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings, according to Superintendent Jon Sills. 

Educators were prepared to answer questions concerning the bombings from students at all four Bedford schools, and counselors were made available at all schools to support students in processing the tragedy, according to Sills. 

Parents of students at Lane Elementary School, which serves students grades three through five, were emailed by Lane School Principal Robert Ackerman in order to inform them how educators at Lane would address the tragedy with students. 

Ackerman said there was no school-wide announcement made at Lane Monday morning, with educators waiting to see if students wanted to discuss the events of last week in class.

"We looked to the students to see if they brought it up," Ackerman said. "Our counselors provided teachers with talking points if the issue did come up."

Halfway through Monday morning, Ackerman said it was more or less business as usual at Lane School.

"For the most part, it feels like a regular day," Ackerman said. 

Sills said he does not believe , changed the way Bedford educators were planning on addressing students Monday morning.

"I think the collaborative and concentrated effort from law enforcement and civilians  that we witnessed in the capture adds some positivity and power to the message," Sills said. "We were mainly looking for how to provide a message of solemnity and sorrow for the victims and those affected, and I don't think the capture changed that."

Sunday night, Sills sent out an email to all parents of students in Bedford schools which included some thoughts on the Boston Marathon bombings as well as information on how Bedford educators would address the tragedy Monday morning.

You can read the full text of the email from the Superintendent to Bedford parents below:

Dear Bedford Families, Faculty and Staff,

I imagine that for all of us this is a time of powerful, mixed emotions.
An immense appreciation for the first responders' courage and humanity presses up against the incredible sadness we feel for Monday's victims. The pride we feel for law enforcement's coordinated efforts and for the cooperation of ordinary citizens goes a long way to patch the huge new tears in our collective sense of security, but a feeling of fragility remains.

Since school was not in session last week, the very experience of coming together tomorrow, of seeing friends, trusted adults, or colleagues may surface strong emotions for students and staff alike. Counselors will be prepared to support students who need to talk or to share a quiet space. This is an extraordinary time, and while returning to routines will for most of us be a comforting distraction, all of our schools' adults will be alert and sensitive to the need to make adjustments where necessary.

As spring struggles to paint our days in warmth and color, I know that we will keep a special place in our hearts for those who are no longer with us and for the injured who will never forget.

Jon