NVUSD Responds to Newtown, CT School Shooting

News of Friday's mass shooting that left 20 children and six adults dead at an elementary school in Connecticut sent shock waves through communities around the country, including tight-knit Napa County.

What do you do when the unthinkable occurs? Please see the accompanying pdfs for the California Department of Education's crisis response guidelines for parents and teachers. 

The Napa Valley Unified School District was preparing to go on Christmas vacation when the story broke. Maren Rocca-Hunt, district director of elementary education, sent a message to school staff:

I know that our thoughts, prayers and best wishes go out to the families, communities and our fellow educators who have been so tragically impacted by this event.  While we could never begin to understand such a horrible situation, we can at least use it as a reminder to be appreciative of those we love and to continue to support, nurture and safe-guard the young people with whom we are entrusted.

Some of our schools have received calls from parents asking about safety policies and procedures.

During a time like this we need to have a heightened awareness to campus security and safety and to the impacts an incident like this can have emotionally on the children we serve. 

Source: Napa Valley Unified School District

A similar statement is posted on the district website at nvusd.k12.ca.us. In her email to schools, Rocca-Hunt included a link to the California Department of Education's Resources for Coping with Tragedy:

http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ss/cp/tragedy.asp

District schools resume classes Jan. 7, 2013.

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