School District 43 is urging parents to be alert to signs of distress from children exposed to media reports of last Tuesday's stabbing incident that led to the death of one Abbotsford high school student and injured another.
In a letter to parents, SD43 superintendent Patricia Gartland told parents that schools are safe and offered tips to help them support their children in the event that they are feeling emotional trauma from hearing about the event through news or social media.
Thirteen-year-old Abbotsford senior secondary student Letisha Reimer was killed and a 14-year-old friend injured in what police have described as a random attack. Following the tragedy, police and school officials in Abbotsford asked media outlets and individuals to stop circulating videos of the incident.
In the letter, Gartland recommended parents be aware of the physical symptoms of trauma, monitor their child's media exposure, especially for younger children, and seek additional support from community agencies if necessary.
"We can assure you that we take the safety of all our students very seriously," Gartland said in the letter. "Incidents like these remind us of the importance of all our protocols, which we have in place to ensure the safety of students and staff. Please know that we remain mindful, caring and vigilant."
