Resources on How to Discuss School Violence

On March 27, 2023, The Covenant School students, staff, and families experienced something that no one should ever have to endure, and certainly not at a place we trust is safe for our children.

This senseless loss of life will be difficult for adults to process on their own while trying to support children and young people. Our students want and need to talk about what they see, remember, and are feeling now; they need the guidance and safety of adults in their lives to be able to navigate their own emotions and trauma in a healthy, safe, and productive way. Adults need to be able to acknowledge and address their own emotional responses in order to best support young people.

Below are resources that you may find helpful on how to reinforce safety for your students and how to communicate about this tragedy in an age-appropriate context:

Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth After the Recent Shooting
(The National Child Traumatic Stress Network – English/Spanish)

Helping Youth after Community Trauma: Tips for Educators
(The National Child Traumatic Stress Network – English/Spanish)

Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers
(National Association of School Psychologists – English/Spanish)

Responding to School Violence: Tips for Administrators
(National Association of School Psychologists)

Helping Children Cope with Frightening News
(Child Mind Institute – English/Spanish)

Coping in the Aftermath of a Shooting
(American Counseling Association)

Trauma and Disaster Mental Health
(American Counseling Association)

Teaching in the Wake of Violence
(Facing History and Ourselves)