Grief+and+Loss

Grief and Loss are universal topics; at some point in our lives we will all experience losing someone or something we love. Gateway has had it's share of tragic losses, I think, and out of them has grown in me a genuine care and interest for the wellbeing of our Gateway students. We've had inservices for staff, significant crisis response training for the department, and professional development experiences for individuals all with the intent of creating a safe place to talk openly about grief and loss. We've had memorial services for students, moments of silence and other supportive activities, and have provided workshops and grief groups for students. It's been quite humbling and honoring to work with these kids and all students as they travel this path of living without someone they love or living after a traumatic event.

__**Update Dec. 8**__ Grief Awareness Day proved to once again be a great day for those students who participated. With the help of the Caring Team, (Madison, Jen, Karlie, Erin, Tessa, Roi, Leanne, and Roni) a large number of students bought Butterfly cookies from Spinola's Bakery, passed out blue wrist bands, wore blue to school, and made personal blue ribbons to wear. The Caring Team raised over $300! The Grief Awareness talk was postponed to Tues 11-29 to a full LGI. Check out the GHS Grief Awareness video with Hope the Butterfly!

__**Oct. 12**__ On November 17, 2011, we will once again acknowledge [|Children's Grief Awareness Day], sponsored by the [|Highmark Caring Place].

Myself and 3 seniors traveled to the Grief Awareness Kickoff Luncheon held at Heinz Field Sept. 27th. This event is meant to encourage students to support grieving children by raising awareness of the need to honor and support kids who have loss someone special; someone immediate in their lives.

On November 17th, I will again hold an educational workshop for any student interested in learning about the language of grief and how to support their friends and classmates as well as others who walk our halls at GHS who have experienced a loss. I'll have a presentation, we'll have a couple periods to do some activities, and during 8th period we will do a balloon release for anyone who wants to remember a loved one. The last 2 years have proved to be very beneficial, and I am looking forward to doing it again this year.

Look for Hope the Butterfly (to the left) around campus!

During the school year, I will facilitate a Grief Group for interested students. If you are a student or know a student who has lost a parent, sibling, or immediate caretaker please let me know. I will be glad to support them anyway I can and will invite them to attend if they so desire.

//__Some other sites I often use....__//
American Hospice Foundation []

Hospice, Helping Teens Grieve []