May 24, 2022
Dear Mendon-Upton Families and Staff,
I am reaching out to you this evening as we are all learning more about the horrific and tragic events that occurred today at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Our hearts are broken and our thoughts are with those impacted as we grieve the senseless loss of 18 children and 1 teacher at the time of this message.
As we, once again, are forced to grapple with yet another unfathomable act of violence, happening on the heels of another recent tragedy in Buffalo, we are committed to supporting our students and each other. Our counselors will be ready to work with students who may need some support or reassurance. Principals will work with teachers to address any concerns their classes have. We are here to support you and we also want to share resources for our community on how to talk about tragedies like these. Please refer to the following recommended resources:
National Association of School Psychologists tips on how to talk to children about violence
Common Sense Media: How to Talk to Kids About School Shootings
I am grateful, and you should be comforted, to know that we operate in two communities that work closely with our school district and with each other to prioritize the safety and well-being of our students. Through our partnership with the Mendon and Upton police and fire departments and our dedicated School Resource Officers who are in our buildings, you will continue to see a visible presence at our school and community events. Through our partnership, we have emergency preparedness procedures, numerous safety measures, practice drills, and we regularly review our protocols. Please know that the safety of our students, teachers, and staff is our number one priority in the Mendon-Upton Regional School District.
Please keep the Uvalde School Community in your thoughts, as they are experiencing this incomprehensible loss. As a parent, I will hug my two boys a little tighter tonight. As a superintendent, I wish for the day when messages like these will not be needed. If you are in need of support or have questions, please reach out to any member of our school community, if we can support you in any way.
Sincerely,
Dr. Maureen Cohen
Superintendent of Schools
Mendon-Upton Regional School District