A Letter to Parents
from Mark Freeman, Superintendent of Schools

September 14, 2001

Dear Shaker Parents and Guardians:
Our students have seen humanity at its worst and at its most heroic this week. Like all of us, they have been through a difficult experience since Tuesday when terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Our students and their teachers have shown that they are compassionate and resilient. We can all be proud of them.

I want to take this opportunity, as this traumatic week draws to a close, to tell you how our schools handled the situation and what we can expect going forward.

You should know that we protected elementary children from the devastating images on television and limited discussion of the week’s tragic events. Older students, who are better able to grasp and process events in the world around them, were in some cases permitted to watch the news with their teachers and peers. Our school safety staff was highly visible to help everyone feel more secure, and our counselors and psychologists were available to any student needing assistance.

I spent a great deal of time in the schools this week and would describe the mood as somber, but for the most part focused on work. I observed students and teachers reaching out to comfort others and struggling to make sense of these terrible events. I heard students and teachers, in the best Shaker tradition, discuss the need to refrain from stereotyping, prejudice, and broad indictments of entire religious or ethnic groups. Today at noon, we rang the chimes at Woodbury in observance of the national day of remembrance. Students at various schools read poetry, recited the Pledge of Allegiance, sang patriotic songs, and expressed their sympathy for the families of the victims.

Our staff members, like all Americans, were shocked, frightened and saddened by the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, but they made the well-being of our students their highest priority. I know that you join me in thanking them.

Experts in child and adolescent psychology agree that children can weather trauma if the adults around them remain calm and provide an atmosphere of stability. That is what we strove to do at school this week. Here are some suggestions for parents from experts:

•	Be honest, but do not give children more information than they can handle. Young children should not watch the incessant replays of the attacks on television, and older children’s viewing should be limited and should take place in the presence of a parent.
•	Stick to your family’s normal routines, such as mealtimes and bedtime, to the degree possible. Routines help children feel secure and cared for.
•	Stay close to your children, both emotionally and physically. Read an extra bedtime story at night and be generous with your hugs. Even older children who are often less demonstrative need closeness and affection now.
•	Be attuned to your children’s moods and concerns and take your cues from them. Encourage them to talk about their feelings, and be available to listen to them.
•	If your child remains extremely fearful or shows signs of depression, I urge you to seek help from your family doctor or a mental health professional. Our psychologists and counselors at school can provide short-term support and can refer you to professionals who can provide more extensive therapy, should it be necessary.

Additional advice on helping children cope will be available at all Shaker schools.

During the weeks ahead, we will continue to experience aftershocks as victims are identified and we learn of families in our own community who have been directly affected by this tragedy. Psychologists tell us that many of us are likely to be edgy or to experience overwhelming emotions at unexpected times. Adults as well as children may have trouble sleeping or have nightmares. All of us need to be sensitive to mood changes, which are a normal part of recovery, and try not to overreact when they occur.

Once again this week, as our way of life was threatened, we were reminded of how precious our families are. We in the School District will do all we can to continue supporting our community’s children and families during the days and months ahead.

Sincerely,
Mark Freeman

Site Map  |   January 12, 2004