Coping Resources for Parents & Families

Dear Union Community School District Stakeholders –

We are extremely saddened by the shooting that occurred at Perry High School yesterday. We want to express our deepest sympathies to those most impacted by this tragedy. Nothing prepares a district nor community for something of this nature, and we support all those in the healing process. With that being stated, the Union Community School District also wants to commend the students, staff, first responders, ambulance/paramedics, law enforcement, etc. for addressing this horrific event with professionalism, timeliness and a genuine willingness to put themselves in harm’s way for all. Many of these individuals, if not all of them, are heroes.

The Union Community School District continues to make safety and security of our school community a top priority. We are in close contact with local and county law enforcement and emergency management from both Black Hawk and Tama counties. We have school safety plans, and our caring, concerned staff is continually being prepared to respond to emergency situations. Again, nothing is more important to the board, superintendent, administration, staff and others than safety and security, and we will continue to take measures to meet this objective.

As we process the events from Perry, I am sure our teaching staff will have age-appropriate conversations with students in regards to their emotions and school safety in the next coming days. We know students, no matter the age, may have a wide range of sentiments. The most important thing we (the staff) and you as parents/guardians, can do is to be supportive in allowing questions to be asked and acknowledge the students’ feelings. These school discussions are not designed to scare/traumatize students but to show how much staff cares for them and their well-being. Below are some information/links that may help our staff and you, the parents/guardians, better cope with this shocking, sad event.

Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Families and Teachers – National Association of School Psychologists
Managing Strong Emotional Reactions to Traumatic Events: Tips for Families and Teachers – National Association of School Psychologists
What to say to kids when the news is scary – NPR
Talking with children about difficult things in the news – Fred Rogers Institute
Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth After the Recent Shooting – The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Coping in the Aftermath of a Shooting – American Counseling Association
An Age-by-Age Guide to Talking to Children About Mass Shootings – The New York Times

Further, AASA offers this School Safety and Crisis Planning Toolkit with administrator-specific guidance.

The Union Community School District stands with the students and staff of the Perry Community School District as well as the entire community of Perry. Please keep them in your thoughts as we go forward.

John Howard, Superintendent