School principal issues statement on Faye Swetlik, gives tips for talking to kids
The principal of Springdale Elementary, which first-grader Faye Swetlik attended, issued a statement to parents on Thursday. Faye was found dead earlier in the day. Here’s the entire statement, along with tips from the school for talking with children:
“Dear Springdale Families:
“We have some heart-breaking news to share. Faye Swetlik, a first-grader who has been the subject of media reports this week and an intensive search effort, has passed away.
“We contacted you earlier this week, to share with you some of the efforts here at school to support our students and staff. That support will be more important than ever in coming days, as our community grieves the loss of this little girl. Our goal here at Springdale is to listen and to reassure our students and to keep the school day as normal as we possibly can during this difficult time.
“We will have extra district and school counselors on hand in coming days, talking with students, teachers and staff. They will be available to meet one-on-one with your child should the need arise.
“We know how hard something like this is even for adults to understand. We are sending home some general tips about how you can talk with your child about this.
“If you are worried about how your child is doing, please do not hesitate to contact our school. We are here to support your students through this.
Sincerely,
Hope Vrana
Principal
Here are some tips the school district gave for talking with children about the death:
▪ Give honest, brief explanations.
▪ Avoid over-answering questions.
▪ Keep responses at the child’s level of understanding.
▪ Listen and hug. Use a calm, reassuring voice.
▪ Avoid forcing the discussion.
▪ Remind children it is natural and acceptable to show emotion when someone we love dies.
This story was originally published February 13, 2020 at 4:39 PM.