LA GRANDE – As the days pass since the tragic October 15 shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, school districts across Eastern Oregon have continued to issue statements in solidarity with those impacted, as well reassuring their communities as to the safety of their schools and providing support resources if needed. Earlier this week, La Grande School District also issued a message to the local community in the wake of the tragedy. This full letter, written by Superintendent George Mendoza, can be read below:
(Release from the La Grande School District)
Dear LGSD Families and Staff,Our hearts continue to be with the students, staff, families, and entire Bend communityfollowing the tragic school shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School. Events like this areheartbreaking and remind us how important it is to care for and support one another.I want to reassure our families that the safety and well-being of our students and staff remainamong our highest priorities. Throughout La Grande School District, we have emergency safetyplans and procedures in place, regularly practice emergency response drills, and work closelywith local law enforcement and emergency responders to strengthen school safety andpreparedness.Just as important are the relationships we build with our students and families. Creatingschools where students feel safe, connected, supported, and cared for is something we worktoward every day.Supporting Our ChildrenWe recognize that news of this tragedy may bring feelings of sadness, fear, or uncertainty. Weencourage families to listen to their children, answer questions in age-appropriate ways, andremind them that caring adults are here to help. Our school counselors, administrators, andsupport staff are available if your child needs additional support.I also want to share some helpful resources from the National Association of SchoolPsychologists and Cheri Lovre, a nationally recognized school crisis response expert with rootsin Central Oregon. I’ve had the opportunity to attend several of Cheri’s trainings throughout mycareer, and they have been among the most valuable I’ve experienced. Much of our district’sapproach to school crisis response has been informed by her work.Helpful Resources for Families and Staff• Talking to Children About Violence — National Association of School Psychologists• Helping Children Navigate Anxiety and Difficult Events — Crisis Management Institute Thisincludes practical suggestions for parents, particularly toward the bottom of the page, onhow to approach difficult conversations with children.• Helping Children with Tragic Events in the News – PBS for ParentsAs we keep the Bend community in our thoughts, please know that we remain committed todoing everything we can to provide safe, welcoming, and caring schools for every student.Thank you for your continued trust, partnership, and support of our schools.George Mendoza
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