Today the world witnessed an unimaginable tragedy with the school shooting in Connecticut. This senseless tragedy impacts all school communities, regardless of where we live. We extend heart-felt condolences to all those affected by the event, particularly the students, staff, and families of Sandy Hook Elementary.  May God comfort them during this difficult time.

During the upcoming days we will be immersed in this tragedy through news stories and images as if we were reliving every minute of it.  We realize this event may impact our students and staff, and could result in manifestations of fear and/or symptoms of anxiety. Should you be aware of anyone, including yourself, exhibiting signs of distress, we encourage you to seek appropriate help for these individuals.  Our counselors and psychologists can provide resources for initial assistance and referrals to professional counseling.  The CDE’s Coping with Tragedy website includes links to articles on talking to kids about violence, and helping children deal with tragic events.  Links to these resources and more are at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ss/cp/tragedy.asp.   Another resource is Tips and Resources for Teachers and Parents at http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/tips.html.

Incidents like this serve as a reminder why it is so important that all staff and students are well-versed on our emergency plan. While no plan can prevent tragedies from occurring; keeping our plans current and practicing our safety protocols may help save lives. Please take the time to review our emergency procedures found at www.fcusd.org, under the "Our District" tab. 

We invite you to share your thoughts with us through our online comments section of the district's website.  We will endeavor to answer questions or receive suggestions.  We look forward to hearing from you.