School District Responds With Support

As Students Confront A Tragic Loss

By Eliza Hallabeck

 School district officials said this week that any student coping with the loss of Newtown High School senior Danielle Jacobsen can find support in the schools.

A moment of silence was held at the school on Tuesday, June 1, to remember the honors student. Danielle was a member of the school’s TAP program, a roughly 20-student afternoon school program.

 Danielle Jacobsen’s body was discovered in a small pond Sunday morning in Monroe, according to Monroe police. (See related story.)

By Monday, Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson had sent an email to Board of Education members and district principals announcing the tragic news.

At Newtown Middle School, where Danielle’s younger sibling attends school, and at Newtown High School the crisis team was “in place right away” when students returned to school on Tuesday, Dr Robinson said.

“The real concern is with the TAP program,” said Dr Robinson, “because those kids get really close.” She added support will be offered through the week for students attending TAP.

At the start of the week, NHS Principal Charles Dumais sent a message, by email and voice message, to parents in the district, announcing, “It is my sorrowful responsibility to inform you that one of our members of the Class of 2010 passed away over the Memorial Day weekend.”

Mr Dumais said students in the TAP program wrote letters for Danielle’s family to show support on Tuesday.

Support staff was available throughout the week to provide grief counseling for all students, according to Mr Dumais’s announcement.

“Students are encouraged to seek out an adult in the building if they have questions or concerns,” he wrote to parents.

Any adult at the high school is available to help students, he said, especially the counselors, social workers, and psychologists.

“The staff gets very close to these kids,” Dr Robinson said. “It is like losing a member of your family.”

Dr Robinson said she never knew Danielle, but noted the loss of a student can hit many people in the district. It is not something anyone prepares for emotionally, she said. For parents with children who may be reacting to the loss, Dr Robinson said, “they need to know the support is there at the schools for the students.”

“First step is talking to your kids,” said Mr Dumais on Wednesday, “and making sure they know there are tons of resources here at the school.”

School staff is trying to be respectful and supportive of Danielle’s family, Mr Dumais said.

During the Board of Education’s meeting on Tuesday, June 1, school board Chair Lillian Bittman opened the meeting with a moment of silence for Danielle.

While she did not know Danielle Jacobsen or the family, Ms Bittman said her thoughts go out to them.

“And I’d like everyone to remember the family in their hearts tonight, and as the days go on,” said Ms Bittman.

Newtown clergy members have also made themselves available to the school, according to Monsignor Robert Weiss of St Rose of Lima, Danielle’s parish.

“I can just assure the clergy is available,” Monsignor Weiss said on Thursday, June 3. The church’s youth group also offered their prayers on Sunday for Danielle, and will continue to pray for her and her family, he said.

Monsignor Weiss said he was at the house immediately after learning of the discovery, and he and St Rose of Lima staff have been offering support for the family.

The situation is a tragedy, he said, and, “It’s certainly hard, especially with graduation just a few weeks away, to lose a classmate.”