Dear Editor:

Over the past few days, I could not help but be moved by the tragedy that has stricken so many of our fellow citizens in the Gulf Coast section of our country. The scenes made available via the press and other media were shocking and emotionally unsettling. What will most certainly be recorded in history as the single greatest natural disaster our country has ever seen has prompted me to write to you and offer my words of encouragement to you and your family. This may seem a bit odd but is being done because of what I intuitively know happens to children and families during times of adversity, whether we are directly involved or not.

First, let me share that I have found myself during the very early hours of the morning viewing channels such as CNN and MSNBC and have been moved to the point where I have had to shut the television off because of my personal feelings of distress and compassion for the people whose lives have been ravaged by hurricane Katrina. My thoughts and prayers have gone out to the people (most especially the children) whose lives have been changed forever because of this wrath of nature. Words cannot express my feelings. It is because of this that I wish to encourage each of you to spend time as a family reminding your children that they are safe and will be cared for just as they always have been before. The reason for my suggestion is simply based on my experience that when children view scenes such as those readily available via television, magazines and newspapers on a daily basis, they tend to personalize what they see and may be left questioning their own personal safety. Now is a time to remind each other of how fortunate we are to be in control of our own lives, property and other similar things.

Second, I would encourage you to remind your children that we are available as school personnel to assist them with coping with any emotions that they may experience in response to this most recent tragedy, or any other issue for that matter. We stand committed to supporting all of our children in any way possible so that they will realize that they are being educated in supportive and caring schools with dedicated and highly trained personnel, some of whom are specially trained to intervene during times of emotional distress and crisis.

In closing, I feel fortunate to be able to write this message to you, safe from natural disaster and having only the best of intentions at heart. My sincere hope is that we can channel our energies into supporting each other during times of need and learn to celebrate with each other during times of joy. Please accept my best wishes for a great new school year and may we be blessed with continued good fortune.

I remain very truly yours,

Gary S. Mala
Superintendent of Schools