The Children of America's Hometown Return to School Monday, Advice to Parents

Monday is the first day of school for Plymouth school children, since the Boston Marathon bombings on April 15. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Gary E. Maestas sent the following letter  to parents and guardians of school-age children in the district.

Good Day Plymouth Families:

Over the past week, the events surrounding the Boston Marathon have left us all with a sense of heartache for the lives lost in Boston and the many people injured in the bombing.

Traditionally, I have made time on Patriot’s Day to watch the Boston Marathon on TV since it has always been a dream of mine to run in it. While watching the early runners finish, I once again experienced that desire to run in next year’s race. A couple of hours later, I turned on the TV in shock to view the horrific actions happening to an event so revered throughout the world. I am sure many of you experienced this same reaction to this tragic event.

We are all hearing stories of those directly connected to the four people who lost their lives and the 177 injured. We are overcome with emotion as we try to make sense of such a senseless act. As a community focused on supporting our youth, it is imperative that we support our families in times like these. As parents, we are often challenged by the task of processing our own emotions first, so that we may optimally support those expressed by our children.

While the youngest members of our community may be unaware of the bombings, most of our students are well aware due to online media and conversations with peers. Should you wish to discuss the tragedy at the Boston Marathon with your children, the link (bottom of letter) from the National Association of School Psychologists may be helpful.

As we welcome your children back from April break tomorrow, we encourage them to seek help from our counseling staff should they need support. Our counseling staff will be available for any student who needs assistance.
In today’s age of social media and the expediency in releasing news, children are exposed to a great deal of content. Below are links to several resources (bottom of letter) that may be useful in the days to come to assist you in addressing issues that may surface.

In closing, and as we begin the healing process, there are events planned in Plymouth over the next few days to show our support of the people of the City of Boston.

On Monday, April 22, 2013, at 7:00 p.m., a candlelight prayer vigil will be held at Memorial Hall in Plymouth. This event is open to the public and is an interfaith gathering to support all affected by the recent events. At times like this, family, friends and personal faith are very important.

The online resources are listed below. Please take moment to visit each. Sincerely,

Gary E. Maestas, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools

National Association of School Psychologists Helping Children Cope with a National Tragedy

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Safe & Healthy Learning Environments

Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools Technical Assistance Center
Helping Youth and Children Recover from Traumatic Events

US Department of Education
Safe and Supportive Schools

Safe Supportive Learning – Emergency Readiness and Management

New York Times
“Tips for Talking to Children about the Shooting” (NYT, Dec. 14)