In the wake of the shootings at the Sandy Hook elementary school in Connecticut, Morris District Superintendent Thomas Ficarra sought to reassure parents in Greater Morristown on Saturday. This message went to parents:
FROM THE MORRIS SCHOOL DISTRICT:
Morris School District
Office of the Superintendent
31 Hazel Street
Morristown, NJ 07960
December 15, 2012
Dear Parents,
The unspeakable tragedy that occurred at Sandy Hook School in Connecticut is heartbreaking and touches us all.
In light of this tragedy I want to assure parents that our students’ safety is always at the forefront of everything we do. The Morris School District has worked closely for several years with local police, the Morris County Prosecutor’s office and emergency responders to establish, practice, and refine safety measures specific to each school. Drills are conducted by staff and students throughout the year in all our schools. And while we are as confident as any school can be that our children are safe while in our care, we have scheduled a meeting with law enforcement agencies to review our procedures and make any changes needed based on lessons learned from this tragic event.
Our school counselors will be available for students on Monday and teachers will be on the lookout for children who may need assistance or support. The National Association of School Psychologists website, www.nasponline.org provides information and guidance that may be of help to parents when responding to children’s questions about this event.
As parents, we will all hold our children closer in the days to come and our hearts and prayers go out to those families whose loss is beyond measure.
Sincerely,
Thomas J. Ficarra,
Superintendent of Schools
