UHS: October 5 Update
Dear Uxbridge Community:
Today was, as one may expect, a very challenging day at Uxbridge High School. The mood was especially subdued and somber, and the hallways and classrooms were noticeably quiet. One person here aptly described the vibe in the building as “appropriate,” in that people were quiet, dealing with emotions, and, most importantly, supporting one another.
We started the day with the presence of comfort dogs from three communities in addition to Uxbridge. Our thanks to Upton, Harvard, and Blackstone for sending us their support animals and officers at the start of school and through the morning, and to Hopedale for joining us later in the day. In addition, clergy and youth ministry staff from Valley Chapel were here throughout the day as an additional source of support for students and staff alike.
At the start of the day, we made a PA announcement sharing the tragic news - and giving individuals the space, as a school, to grieve, feel whatever they may feel, respect those who were struggling, and come together as a community. As was shared in that announcement, we support one another and are allowed to feel whatever we feel. We also set the expectation for students that there were spaces for them to get support, and that we had staff in place in those spaces and that students should go there - not wander around the building. The students were remarkably compliant and understanding, both of our staff and one another, and to see the way individuals brought each other the comingling of grief, sympathy, and compassion was yet another indication of how our community does things the right way.
Our faculty and staff as a whole did what it does best - worked in the service of students and supported one another. The UHS counseling and crisis team, in particular, was exceptional in dealing with the members of our community, both colleagues and students, who were most significantly affected by the news of the weekend. They stopped into classes, facilitated conversations, connected with families, and found resources to support people throughout the day, all in the service of this community. In the same vein, we had
The next few days will continue to be challenging. We recognize - and shared in our message to students and in our staff meeting at 2:00 - that we do not expect one day to resolve the tragedy and pain inflicted on this community and the student’s friends and family. However, we do know that we have the people, the staff, the students, and the systems in place to help us all manage through one of the darkest times any school community can endure.
On a personal and professional level, I am deeply grateful for the collective efforts of so many people. I shared with a colleague who was checking on my well-being that between Saturday night around 9:30 and the close of school on Monday, I had received upwards of 450 text messages, emails, and phone calls, and that colleagues from around the state and schools from around the region had reached out to us to see how they can assist us, as we have supported others. In addition, the steadfast assistance of our district leadership team, UHS' colleagues at Taft and Whitin, and the effort of our high school crisis team has allowed our entire school to focus on the students and those most affected.
(For those who are wondering, our crisis team at UHS includes: Assistant Principal Mr. Fredette, Dean of Students Mr. Moura, School Nurse Ms. Schiller, School Psychologist Ms. Rozell-Alba, Behavior Analyst Ms. Deveau, Team Chair Ms. Deschene, School Counselors Ms. Smith, Ms. Carlisle, and Ms. Gutekunst, School Adjustment Counselors Ms. Tobin and Ms. Ciccone, Ms. Durkin as the main office secretary, and SRO Deveau. Yesterday, in the immediate planning, we were also joined by Mr. Ljungberg and Chief Montminy, which helped us with brainstorming needs for today. All of these individuals have been of immense support and will continue to be significant bearers of responsibility as the week continues).
We will continue to have support in place throughout the week, and we will be hoping to restore the school to more typical classroom routines in the days that will follow. While this will be hard, and we are not pretending it will not be, we know we have the ability to get through this together.
Finally, if any families or students require specific assistance or have any further questions, we urge you to reach out either to school administration or the student’s school counselor.
Sincerely,
Dr. Michael D. Rubin
Principal, Uxbridge High School