On Oct. 22, Mars Area School District was informed of the tragic death of Alex Kinch, a junior at Mars Area High School. A young person's death is always tragic and a sudden loss like this can have a profound effect on students. It is important that we recognize this loss and offer help. As this is a sensitive issue, we ask that you please talk with your child.
During this time, we are especially concerned about our students, who may be experiencing strong emotions. A sudden death is always painful to understand, and your child may experience signs of stress, such as:
- difficulty sleeping
- a change in sleep habits
- an inability to concentrate or absentmindedness
- irritability
- thoughts about death or dying
- withdrawing from normal activities and/or friends
- guilt
- fearfulness & worries
- use of alcohol and/or drugs
- risk-taking behaviors
We ask that you please monitor your child's behavior, actions, and reactions, as he/she processes this news.
Counselors will be available at the school to talk with any students, who may be experiencing stress. If you have concerns about your child, please contact the main office and ask to speak with the Principal or a School Counselor.
If you feel as though your child is in crisis, please reach out immediately to our crisis partners 24 hours/day, 7 days/week:
Center for Community Resources — 1-800-292-3866 or www.ccrinfo.org
For any families seeking additional resources, we encourage you to reach out to the Caring Place at www.highmarkcaringplace.com/cp2/contact.shtml.
Be assured of our District's continued support of our students and families. Please do not hesitate to call us if you have any questions or information you wish to share.