In the last couple of weeks,
school violence and safety has been on everyone’s minds. It is hard to imagine that someone could do
something so awful as what occurred at the Sandy Hook School in Newtown,
CT. Why kill innocent children? It is enough to make a parent sick, and make
you not want to let your children out of your sight! However, this is not realistic and not
healthy for you as a parent, or for your children. Our school keeps all doors locked, except for
the front door to the vestibule outside the main office. We have been assured that in our district,
lock down drills are practiced and emergency plans and procedures are in place. For my own piece of mind, I have to
believe that our school does everything they can on a daily basis to protect my
children and all the children in the school.
If you are concerned that your school does not have a policy, or think
that your school or parent group can use some resources, check out http://safeschools.org/
However, it is still a scary
time, for both parents and children alike.
Remember that children can sense your fear. I know that I tend to get short with my kids
when I am stressed. I am trying to keep that in check and continue our normal
routine. In our house we have limited
the access to the news coverage and have decided to make snowflakes as our
contribution to the new school. Have you
seen that? This is a great way to get school aged children involved in doing
something positive for the students at Sandy Hook Elementary. Here is the link
to how you can help, whether snowflakes, or fundraising. http://www.ctpta.org/SANDY-HOOK-FUND.html
In addition, here are some
excellent resources to help you talk with and support your children cope with tragedy
such as school violence. http://nasponline.org/resources/handouts/revisedPDFs/talkingviolence.pdf
Wishing you all a happy and
safe New Year.
