Dear WCCUSD Community:

Many of us are feeling a lot of pain today as we attempt to process the horrific school shooting yesterday in Texas. We know this news has a big impact on our students, families and staff, and we want you to know that we are here to support you. 

Yesterday, we shared a message with the WCCUSD community that contains some tips and resources that provide support for students. We are gathering additional resources to provide to you as well and I wanted to share them with you: 

English Resources:

• Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers (National Association of School Psychologists)
• Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth After the Recent Shooting (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
• How to Talk to Kids About Violence, Crime, and War (Common Sense Media)
• Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Educators (National Association of School Psychologists)
• Parent Guidelines for helping youth after a shooting (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
• Five tips to help children cope with a national tragedy (OCDE Newsroom)
• Helping Children Cope With Frightening News (Child Mind Institute)
• Coping in the Aftermath of a Shooting (American Counseling Association)
• Supporting employees in coping with community violence (Employee Assistance for Education –EASE)
• Trauma and Disaster Mental Health (American Counseling Association)
• APA resources for coping with mass shootings, understanding gun violence (American Psychological Association)
• How to talk to children about difficult news (American Psychological Association)
• Helping your children manage distress in the aftermath of a shooting (American Psychological Association)
• My school's new emergency plan includes lockdown drills. How can we keep them from scaring the kids? (Child Mind Institute)
• Teaching in The Wake of Violence (Facing History & Ourselves)

Spanish Resources:

• Ansiedad por los tiroteos en las escuelas (Child Mind Institute)
• Apoyo emocional de un Defensor capacitado (Línea Nacional de Ayuda para Padres)
• Recursos de violencia masiva (The National Child Trauma)
• Cómo ayudar a sus hijos tras los tiroteos en los centros de educación (American Psychological Association)
• Como Ayudar a los niños a Afrontar Noticias Alarmantes (Child Mind Institute)
• Hablarles a los niños sobre violencia: consejos para padres y educadores (National Association of School Psychologists)
• Cómo manejar tu angustia después de una tragedia provocada por armas de fuego (American Psychological Association)
• Conversando con Niños Sobre la Violencia: Sugerencias para Padres y Maestros (National Association of School Psychologists)
• El nuevo plan de emergencia de mi escuela incluye simulacros de encierro. ¿Cómo podemos evitar que asusten a los niños? (Child Mind Institute)
• Guía para los Padres para Ayudar a los Jóvenes después de un Tiroteo Reciente (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network)

If you find a resource that you find especially helpful for students and staff to process this tragedy, please let me know. 

Please continue to take care of yourself and each other. 

Sincerely, 

Dr. Kenneth Chris Hurst
Superintendent