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A message from GUNN HIGH SCHOOL
GUNN HIGH SCHOOL
Message sent – 5/5/2009
Sad News
Dear Gunn Parents/Guardians and community members,
I am very sorry to have to share sad news with you. This morning, a Gunn student was killed on the railway track near Gunn. Our hearts and condolences go out to the student’s family and friends at this extremely difficult time.
Some of you may already have heard about this incident and, although we cannot share the name of the student with you right now until all family members have all been notified, we did want you to know about it. The entire Gunn staff has been informed about the incident and a message about it was read to all students who have a G period class.
We know that some students and staff members will have a very difficult time dealing with this news. We have arranged for our entire counseling staff to be available to offer assistance and support to any student or staff member who might need it.
As you welcome your children home this evening and tell them you love them, I encourage you to talk with them about the importance of letting caring adults in their lives know if they are having problems or are worried about friends who have problems. Breaking the code of silence so often observed by teens, even when they know friends are wrestling with difficult issues, can be the very best, most supportive thing they can do for their peers. No problem is so big that it cannot be solved if we know about it and have the chance to work with the student.
A list of resources available to teens in crisis situations was sent to all classrooms this afternoon. The list is also pasted below in case you need it.
Sincerely.
Noreen Likins
Resources for a Crisis
The following is a list of available resources in our community:
Adolescent Counseling Services 650/424-0852
KARA 650/321-5272
Family and Children’s Service 650/326-6576
Center for Living with Dying 408/243-0222
Suicide and Crisis Hotline 650/494-8420
Teen Clinic 650/694-0600
Alcohol and Drug Hotline 650/573-3950
Parental Stress Hotline 408/279-8228
Teen Health Resource Line 888/711-8336
How many children have to kill themselves before we start listening to them?
This may have been a Gunn student, but it could easily have been a Paly student. Really, this is just one of our own teenagers. These high schoolers know each other, many of them went to the same middle school. Many of them were in sports or other extra curricular activities with each other. Our community is grieving, both schools.
Its not the fact that parents dont listen, its the student fault for not opening up. I only feel sadness for his family.
Anom:
Lots of parents DON’T listen or care. Parents set the tone in the family. In a perfect world, all children would be able to ask their parents anything.