Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
An 11th-grade student at Pennsbury High School passed away unexpectedly on Thursday evening, the school district announced.
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Superintendent Dr. Thomas Smith and Principal Reggie Meadows expressed condolences to the student’s family and friends in a letter sent to the school community.
School counselors and case managers were made available at the Falls Township high school to assist students who may be impacted by the loss, directly or indirectly, the school administrators said.
The school administration has urged families to not spread rumors and has promised to provide accurate information as it becomes available.
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“Rumors may begin to circulate, and we ask that you not spread rumors you may hear,” the administrators wrote.
If parents notice their child having difficulty coping with the event, they are advised to reach out to the school for support, Smith and Meadows said.
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School counselors will remain accessible to all students in the wake of their peer’s death.
With the help of faculty, counselors will help identify students who may be struggling to cope.
The school provided resources for parents to comfort someone after an unexpected loss and common signs of a teen who may be struggling following the death.
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Below is the full letter to the school community and a list of resources:
Dear Pennsbury Families,
I am saddened to report that one of our students, an 11th-grade student at PHS, passed away suddenly last evening. Our condolences go out to the student’s family and friends.
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Many adolescents and members of our community may be impacted (either directly or indirectly) by this loss. School counselors and case managers will be available throughout the day at PHS to assist students.
The death of a student presents us with many questions that we may not be able to answer right away. Rumors may begin to circulate, and we ask that you not spread rumors you may hear. We’ll do our best to give you accurate information as it becomes known to us.
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If you feel that your child is having difficulty coping with this event, please let us know as soon as possible. As always, our counselors will remain accessible to the entire student body, and with the help of our faculty, attempt to identify any students who may be having ongoing difficulties.
Please keep in mind that any traumatic event can trigger an emotional reaction, even to an unrelated event (family illness, prior losses, etc.). Please review the below links for suggestions on how to comfort someone after an unexpected loss and common characteristics of an adolescent who may be having difficulty coping (see links below).
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Sincerely,
Thomas A. Smith, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Reggie Meadows
PHS Campus Principal
• How to Help a Grieving Teen
• Recommended Books for Children Coping With Loss or Trauma
• Addressing Grief
• Putting the Good in Grief
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