Dear RPS parents, caregivers, and staff,
I am writing to express grief, sympathy, and support for the student who was critically injured in a shooting incident this morning at Stewartville High School, as well as for that student's family, the staff and students of Stewartville Public Schools, and the entire Stewartville community, which includes many people who work in Rochester Public Schools.
We were informed of the incident in Stewartville by law enforcement early this morning, before it became public knowledge. We took immediate steps to ensure that the extensive security protocols that we have in place for all Rochester Public Schools buildings and grounds were fully in place. We work closely and intensively with law enforcement to prepare for any situation that could pose a threat to our schools, including situations like the one that occurred in Stewartville today.
As officials from the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office explained in a statement this morning, the shooting that occurred in Stewartville does not appear to have been random, and there is no current threat to the safety of students and staff in Stewartville, Rochester, and other schools in our region.
That said, every time an incident like this occurs, it has a psychological and emotional impact on all of us -- most notably our young people. Our school social workers, school counselors, mental health practitioners, and other staff who have expertise in these areas, as well as our classroom teachers and administrators, are a resource for any student who is struggling to understand or process the incident that happened this morning. The RPS mental health team has prepared guidance on how to support students in the aftermath of an incident such as the one that occurred in Stewartville today. You will find that guidance below.
Finally, I want to note that a number of staff in RPS reached out to me this morning to suggest that we cancel school in Rochester given how close our community is to Stewartville. While I understand why people proposed we take that step, we did not do so for two primary reasons. First, sending Rochester students home could have sent the message to our students that our schools were or are under threat, which was not and is not the case. Second, thousands of RPS parents work at jobs where they are not able to immediately leave work to take care of young children. Canceling school today would have given those parents even less time to make arrangements to care for their children than they have when we declare a snow day.
Once again, our hearts are with the community of Stewartville and especially those who were directly affected by the tragic violence that took place in our region this morning.
Sincerely,
Kent Pekel, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Guidance for talking with young people about the shooting that took place this morning
It is expected for students to express feelings of fear, uncertainty and sadness after tragic events like this. Although those feelings are uncomfortable, they are healthy responses. To support others when they feel this way, one of the most impactful things a support person can do is to validate the feelings of the impacted person and respond with non judgemental empathy. Some ways to express that could be:
I care about you and am here to listen or help
I’m glad you are sharing this with me / This must be really difficult for you to share
That sounds so difficult for you.
This is really hard. It makes sense that you feel like this.
These feelings are totally expected and normal. It’s ok for you to feel this way
We don’t have to talk right now, I’m just going to sit here with you while you….(cry, think, reflect, draw, process, etc.)
People in the early stages of grief, fear and sadness often need help attending to their basic needs. Ways to support that can include:
Having water or other healthy beverages available
Having snacks and food available
Providing blankets, fidgets, pillows or other comfort items
Dimming lights, providing calming activities
It is important to pay attention to signs that a person’s reaction is becoming more than an expected response. This might be a sign that this person could use additional support or resources. Signs of a larger concern might be:
Engaging in new high risk behaviors or increased substance use
Extended withdrawing from friendships or other relationships
Changes in sleeping or eating patterns that extend beyond a few days
Long term school performance changes
f you notice these signs in your student, please reach out to your school’s counselor or social worker, or reach out to your students’ primary care physician. Additionally, you may contact Sarah Clarke, Coordinator of Mental Health or Koni Grimsrud, Director of Student Wellbeing for assistance in navigating these resources.