Dear Brown Parent Community,

It is with a great deal of sadness that I must inform you that our school community lost a very special parent yesterday.  Children can respond to such a tragic loss in many different ways.  For some children, such heartbreaking news can remind them of other losses they may have experienced in their own life.  For other children, they may personalize it, which can trigger anxiety for the welfare of their own parents. 

The Brown Middle School Community is here to support all children, particularly through difficult times.  If you sense that your child needs supports to work through their feelings and thoughts, we encourage you to contact your child's counselor, Grade 6 – Rachel Kilian, kilianr@madison.k12.ct.us or (203)245-6421 and Grade 5 – Eliza Hayes, hayese@madison.k12.ct.us or (203)245-6419.  As a parent, talking to your child about loss and sadness can be challenging.  The following resources may provide guidance for you prior to speaking with your child. 

https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources/school-safety-and-crisis/addressing-grief/addressing-grief-tips-for-teachers-and-administrators

http://www.scholastic.com/childrenandgrief/

https://www.hospicenet.org/html/talking.html

As always, our commitment is to providing the necessary resources to help students.

Sincerely,

Julie Phelps

Brown Middle School

980 Durham Road • Madison, CT 06443 • (203) 245-6400