HILLSBOROUGH: School counselors prepared to talk about Connecticut shooting

   Beginning this morning, Monday, the Hillsborough school district’s Crisis Management Team was on hand to provide staff with the support they may need to help those students with questions and concerns “processing the unthinkable event that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School.”
   Superintendent Jorden Schiff’s said in a statement, “Our hearts are with the Newtown, Connecticut, community. Although miles from Newtown, many Hillsborough students and staff have been touched by this tragic event. We know that some of our children will have questions, concerns and fears. We also appreciate the fact that some families have also protected their children from the coverage of this event.”
   Dr. Schiff said, “Age-appropriate conversations will be handled delicately, and, in the case of younger students, outside of the classroom environment so as to respect each family’s decision. We do want to reassure all of our students that schools are a safe place.”
   He said student and staff safety are a top priority for the district. Each of the schools has a safety plan in place, with both general safety procedures as well as plans specific to the building layout and school environment. These plans are reviewed periodically and crisis drills are conducted every month, he said.
   On its website, on Friday the school system posted Internet links to resources to give tips on how to speak with children about the shooting. The links are to organizations, including the National Association of School Psychologists and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychology, that have developed resources to assist parents in answering children’s questions in an age-appropriate manner.
   The school website also suggested, “Experts in the field consistently recommend allowing children to express their concerns, but limit their exposure to the media. As parents, the most important thing you can do is to maintain a sense of normalcy and keep your daily routines the same. It is important to reassure children that the adults in their lives are doing everything they can to make their schools and homes safe.”
   The school site urged parents who might see any symptoms of stress in their child to contact the child’s school to speak with a school counselor.
   It also said, “Remember to hug your children a little longer this weekend. Together we can reassure our students that Hillsborough schools are a safe place to be.”