AMLE Grieves the Sandy Hook Tragedy

The Association for Middle Level Education is deeply saddened by the tragic shootings that took place December 14 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Newtown community.

As educators, we care deeply about our students, and while we struggle to make sense of such an event, students struggle as well. It is particularly important to help students as they process the emotions generated by a traumatic event. Children will ask questions, and we need to listen. We need to help calm their fears and bring back a sense of security and help parents and caregivers understand the importance of attending to their children with respect to the fears and anxieties that such a situation invokes.

AMLE recommends that educators and families review and use resources that provide ways to discuss tragedies with 10- to 15-year-olds. Here are some resources to help you:

• Managing Strong Emotional Reactions to Traumatic Events
  National Association of School Psychologists

• Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters
  National Institute of Mental Health

• Tips for Helping Students Recovering From Traumatic Events
  US Department of Education

It also might be time to channel thoughts and energies to reviewing your school safety initiatives and building a safe, tight-knit school community. Here is an additional resource to consider:

• Ten Steps to a Safer School
  Middle Ground magazine

AMLE supports the work of schools and communities and wishes you well as you work with your students and community to cope with this tragic event.