Texas Tragedy Resources and Support

Dear Arcadia Unified Families,

Our hearts and minds have been heavy with grief for the students, educators, and families of Robb Elementary School and the entire Uvalde, Texas community who were the victims of a deplorable school shooting that claimed the lives of children and adults. This senseless scene has been witnessed by the impressionable eyes of our youth far too often, including the recent tragedies in Buffalo and Orange County and far too many others. We are heartbroken over the fact that such appalling acts of violence continue to happen locally and around our nation. 

As adults, it’s difficult to process how and why these heinous tragedies occur. It makes us even more aware that our students are seeing the same headlines and are not only grappling with the same thoughts as we are but that they will look to adults for reassurance and help in finding some way to comprehend the incomprehensible. In support, we would like to remind you that our AUSD counselors and clinicians are on hand for emotional check-in consultations with students and can help students get linked with more formal services if needed. Additionally, we have shared resources and information with our educators and staff to help guide and navigate conversations with students in the days ahead. 

Just last week, we sent out an email to share resources and information in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month. Within our dedicated Mental Health & Wellness Support and Resources webpage that we continue to update with new resources, this webpage includes the following support and resources: crisis and support hotline numbers, links to websites and apps, breathing exercises, mindful art for teens, an AUSD virtual calming room, self-care strategies for teens, top five mental health podcasts and books, calming anxiety in children, videos of our Middle School Wellness Summits, links to each of our school’s counseling websites, and more. 

In addition to the resources we shared in our email to families last week, we wanted to provide more specific and helpful information to support families through conversations about this tragedy and tragedies like it. 

• Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth After the Recent Shooting (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network)  
• Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers (National Association of School Psychologists)  
• Helping Children Cope with Frightening News (Child Mind Institute) 
• Coping in the Aftermath of a Shooting (American Counseling Association) 
• Trauma and Disaster Mental Health (American Counseling Association) 

While we place safety preparedness as our top priority, we know this is a larger community and societal issue that we all need to work on together and support each other in as parents, community leaders, students, educators, and advocates for a peaceful community. Please reach out if you or your child need support, and please continue to support each other as a unified community against hate and violence. Our hearts and minds will continue to be with all the educators, families, communities, and all of you who have been impacted by these tragic events. 

Sincerely,

Dr. David Vannasdall

Arcadia Unified School District Superintendent