Loss in Our School Community

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers,

Students and staff at Winona Elementary School are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death of a Grade 4 student. We share in the grief and sorrow during this profoundly difficult time.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to the student’s family and friends. Our thoughts are also with the student’s sibling in Grade 3, who remains hospitalized.

We recognize that this may be a challenging time for many students. The staff at Winona are committed to supporting all students. Classrooms directly impacted have already been informed. In addition to our school staff, additional support personnel will be available to provide further assistance.

Families can access Tips for adults supporting children and youth after distressing events to support your child when talking about the death of a fellow student, in addition to the following two resources. (5-9)Supporting your child with grief.pdf , (10-12) supporting with grief (1).pdf

Additional supports include:

• COAST Hamilton, 905-972-8338, for crisis outreach and support for all ages

• Kids Help Phone, 1-800-668-6868, for counselling and information service for young people

We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the family during this difficult time.

Sincerely,

Charon Buck

Principal