21 Jan 2019
21 January 2019
It is with sincere sadness that I write to you to inform you that one of our Year 6 students passed away this week after a long illness.
We are all very saddened and extend our sincere condolences to family and friends.
Today and over the coming weeks, you may be concerned about the reaction of your child to this news. Many students will wish to talk with their parents, so I encourage you to let them know that you are aware of what has happened and that you will listen to their concerns at any time they wish to share them.
Staying connected and engaged with your child is one of the best ways to support them. It is important to try to include discussions about positive ways of managing this sad situation.
All of us should seek help from others when we feel down or vulnerable and young people should tell an adult if they are worried about a friend or themselves.
Our school will be concentrating on supporting our students and staff. This means, among other things, returning the school to normal routines as soon as possible and recognising that students can be affected for some months to come.
School counsellor resources have been made available through the Department of Education to support our students and staff today and will continue to be available into the future. Please contact your child’s classroom teacher if you would like your child to use the counselling service.
Some children may prefer to talk to someone they don’t know about how they are feeling. Anonymous and confidential sources of support for children include:
Kids Helpline (1800 551800 or www.kidshelp.com.au)
Headspace (1800 650 890 or www.headspace.org.au)
The staff and I appreciate the tremendous support our parents and broader school community will be able to give at this challenging time.
Our heartfelt thoughts are with the family and friends of a student who was very highly valued in our school community.
Yours sincerely
Owen Dalkeith