go to the funeral

Home

Chat

Blogs

Collection

Directory

Home : 2004 : January : 4

go to the funeral
By Christine

I agree with the other posters that you should go to the funeral if at all possible. Last year, one of my third graders lost his grandmother (who also lived in his house and babysat before and afterschool) in a car accident.
The principal let five staff members leave during the day to attend the funeral (me and my aide, his brother's teacher, his teacher from last year, and another aide who is friends with the mother). The other staff all pitched in to provide coverage for our classes, and sent flowers from the school. It meant SO much to the boys and their parents to have us there!
Most of my students

had heard about the accident (from their parents, etc.). We were very upfront with them that that was where we were going and many of them asked if they could come with us, and they also wanted to know about it after! We let them make cards, which I dropped off at the house. Many of them were also concerned that the same thing could happen to someone they knew and the school psychologist came in and had a great Open Circle discussion with them. I love the idea above about bringing a teddy bear for the student too!