I am heartbroken to share that one of our students has died after an assault. Jaevion Riley, 7, was a first-grader at Weston Elementary School.
We share the community’s outrage over this senseless violence, which has taken the life of a bright, young child. Our hearts go out to Jaevion’s family and friends as they cope with this unimaginable tragedy.
As the Attorney General’s Office and Manchester Police continue to work on this case, our focus is on ensuring our students, staff and families have the support they need. Beginning tomorrow, we are adding extra counselors and the state Disaster Behavioral Health Response Team will provide additional support.
As this case has been in the news, we anticipate you may want to discuss this with your student. Talking with a child about death is difficult – the following resources can help:
- The Do’s and Don’ts About Talking to a Child About Death (Psychology Today)
- Tips for Talking to Kids About Death (NPR)
- Helping Children Cope with Grief (Child Mind Institute)
If you are seeking additional, ongoing local support, we recommend Friends of Aine. This Manchester-based organization that provides support to children and families dealing with grief, offers a variety of resources on its website: https://friendsofaine.com/.
As our community grieves, I ask that you lead with kindness and caring. Please take care of yourselves and each other.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Gillis,
Superintendent of Schools