School District 57

Dear District Staff and Families,

The news of the Israel-Gaza war has caused great concern among staff, students, and families. For those directly or indirectly affected by this conflict, our hearts are with you. Please know our school social workers and psychologists are available should your child/ren be struggling with recent events.

Here are some resources to help with conversations with your children about this and other conflicts.

• American Psychological Association - Resilience in a time of war: Tips for parents and teachers of middle school children

• American Psychological Association - Resilience in a time of war: Tips for parents and teachers of elementary school children

• Unicef - How to talk to your children about conflict and war

• National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) - This resource specifically addresses the war in Ukraine, but it is also applicable to the situation in the Middle East.

• The National Child Traumatic Stress Network - Resources that can be filtered by topic, keyword, and audience with a focus on how adults can identify traumatic responses in young people and how to support them.

• How to Talk to Kids About Violence, Crime, and War - Common Sense Media gathers tips and conversation starters to help us talk to students of different ages about the toughest topics.

• Helping Your Students Cope With a Violent World - This article features strategies for helping children make sense of the world, feel empowered, and be hopeful.
  
  

All my best,

Dr. Mary Gorr, Superintendent