HSD On Newtown School Shooting: "Loss of Life that Took Place is Truly a Tragedy"

In the wake of the unimaginable tragedy at Sandy Hook School Friday, Hazelwood School District Superintendent Grayling Tobias, expresses his grief regarding the horrible events which took place, but also wants to ensure parents know about district measures to prevent and also deal with the situation should it occur here in the City of Hazelwood.

Here is Tobias' message:

Dear HSD Parents and Guardians:  

We are all extremely saddened by the events that took place in a Connecticut school this morning. The loss of life that took place is truly a tragedy. Our thoughts are with those who have been personally impacted by this horrific incident.  

During times like this, it is only natural to think of our own children. As educators, we think of our students as well, and what we are doing every day to make sure they are safe.

Please be assured that safety is a top priority of the Hazelwood School District. We have multiple safety measures in place to help prevent these types of horrible incidences.  

All staff members in our district, including teachers, administrators, and support staff, are trained in emergency response procedures.

We have plans in place for each of our buildings to deal with emergency situations, including those similar to what occurred this morning. We also run regular drills, including an intruder drill, which helps keep the right procedures and precautions fresh in our minds. 

Our school district has a strong partnership with our local police departments, and we work with them closely to ensure that our schools are as safe as possible. Our high school is staffed with a full-time school resource officer and officers are quick to respond when help is needed. We regularly consult with law enforcement about safety issues.  

Counselors in our buildings are available to help students who have been affected by this morning’s shootings. If your child would like to speak to someone at school about his or her feelings, concerns or fears, please let us know or encourage him or her to reach out to a trusted adult. It is critical that our students feel safe at school so they are free to learn.  

Please be assured that the Hazelwood School District has the safety and best interests of your child in mind at all times. We will work together to make sure that our procedures for preventing and dealing with situations such as this are as strong as possible, and that our children are protected. We will continue to re-examine and review all of our procedures as we move forward.  

We have also posted some tips for talking to children about tragedies and grief on our website:

Thank you for your support of HSD, and please keep the town of Newtown, Connecticut in your thoughts.

Sincerely,   Dr. Grayling Tobias