Dear Richmond Families,
We hope that this finds you safe and supported by loved ones. Our deepest sympathies go out to those who have lost friends and family members in the tragic violence of last night. We are grateful to the medical responders and law enforcement teams who are serving and protecting our communities in the aftermath of this crisis. And we are grateful for the strong communities where our Richmond students are cared for and loved.
The unprecedented magnitude and wide-reaching effects of the events that have taken place will make it difficult to shield our children. They will likely need our collective support in the coming days as they process their anxiety, fear, sadness, and questions.
We know some of you are wondering whether school will be closed again on Friday. We are still closely monitoring the situation, and we will keep you updated through our messaging systems on any additional school closures that may be necessary.
When we return to school, we will keep routines as normal as possible while ensuring that students know they can talk about their feelings with their teachers, our counselors, the school nurse, and our school leaders. We will follow the guidelines in the article, Helping your children manage distress in the aftermath of a shooting from the American Psychological Association. It contains research-backed practical and intuitive advice that can help you support your children at home as well.
Please reach out to us if you have any questions or need anything.
Sincerely,
Superintendent Bob Webster
Principal Karl Matulis
Principal Mary Paine