Schools

Maple Grove School Shares a Moment of Silence for Sandy Hook Elementary Community

"Responding to events as a community with a moment of silence allows us to build relationships and be open with our students and staff, and move forward through a tragic situation together," Beacon Academy Assistant Principal Sean Koster said.

The school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT last week continues draw a response from Maple Grove schools as they work with students and staff to address the tragic event.

Beacon Academy Charter School students and staff took a moment of silence on Monday during the school’s social and emotional curriculum taught during the homeroom period.

“Responding to events as a community with a moment of silence allows us to build relationships and be open with our students and staff, and move forward through a tragic situation together,” Beacon Academy Assistant Principal Sean Koster wrote in an email to Patch. “Facing situations head on allows for us to support each other and grow as a community.”

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Beacon Academy administration decided on Friday to hold the moment of silence on Monday.

“Friday's tragic school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut has shocked, sickened and saddened us all deeply at Beacon Academy, and our hearts go out to the community of Sandy Hook Elementary. Like you, we are all struggling to understand how this tragedy could happen,” Koster wrote in a Monday email to families. Parents were provided with information from the National Association of School Psychologists as a resource.  “We stand ready to support the needs of our students and understand that healing and grieving is a process which needs to be supported.”

Find out what's happening in Maple Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The charter school also informed families that safety procedures continue to be practiced at Beacon Academy. 

“At times like these, it's important for our community to know that the safety of our students and staff is our top priority. As always, we will continue to practice our procedures, refining and keeping fresh the ways to best protect and serve Beacon Academy,” Koster wrote.

Beacon Academy Charter School has approximately 420 students and is located near Church of the Open Door in Maple Grove.

You might also be interested in reading: How to Help Families Affected by Newtown School Shooting


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