CMS Families:
As most of you have already heard, our community suffered the loss of an amazing and spunky young lady, Ms. Alexis Dimarco. Over the course of the past 24 hours, I am sure that many of your kids have experienced various emotions based on this tragic news, many of us as adults have as well.
Loss is hard under any circumstances but when it involves youth and happens in such a tragic and unexpected manner, it often shakes our foundations of understanding and feelings of safety and security. It makes us think of our own loved ones that have been lost over the years as well as hug our own kids just a little tighter and longer.
Just like many of you, I am saddened to tears at this time both in my own grief at the loss of Lexi, but also in my concern and care towards her family and all of the others who knew her including parents, students and staff. The correspondence from teachers, parents and students expressing sadness and concern truly match the devastation of the moment and have made me realize that we all need help sometimes navigating these moments.
Our district has an amazing group called the HART Team (Help And Response Team) and I reached out to them today for assistance in how to talk to kids about their grief and help them process their feelings. I found the information to be extremely helpful and worth passing along. There is no manual or mold for how to mourn and how to heal; it is done through each of us caring for our needs as well as looking out for others within our village. The healing of Alexis’ family, her friends and this community is going to be a complex and difficult path, but the tried and true care and commitment that I have seen from this community gives me the confidence that together we can help our kids through this difficult time.
Click HERE for a link to the resources mentioned above. Take care of yourselves, take care of each other. #TheKahokWay
December 17, 2019