Note: Special considerations must be considered when a suicide death is involved. Please review the following critical information: Suicide Response
By Telephone
If time allows, all staff should be notified by phone the day/evening before students are notified. Using a phone tree is the most personalized way to do this. Phone trees should be updated at the beginning of each school year.
Remind each staff person making phone calls to go to the next person on their list even if they have to leave a message. Do not leave details of a death over voicemail, instead tell them you have sad news to share and ask the person to call you back.
Sample Phone Call Language
This is Name from School. I am sorry that I have to call you with some sad news. Tonight we learned of the death of one of our students, Name. She was in Teacher’s Grade Level class. She died Share Confirmed Facts. There will be a stand-up staff meeting before school tomorrow at Time in Location. If any more information becomes available, Administrator will send an email. During times like this it is important to remember to care for each other. Please contact Name if you need to access the Employee Assistance Program.
Sample Voicemail Language
This is Name from School. It is Time on Date. I have some news and need you to call me back as soon as possible. My phone number is Number.
By Email (as a follow-up to phone call)
Send staff an email with more detailed information following a phone call or stand-up staff meeting. Elaborate with additional instructions or information as appropriate including who to contact if they need to access additional resources. Do not share news of a death over email.
Sample Staff Email
Dear staff members:
Tonight we learned of the death of one of our students, Name, who was in Teacher’s Grade class at School. She died in a car crash on Hwy 126 earlier this evening. The driver of the vehicle, her mom, fell asleep at the wheel and sustained minor injuries. There was nobody else in the car. The occupants of the other car survived with minor injuries.
There will be a staff meeting prior to school tomorrow morning at Time in the Location. Additional administrative support, and licensed and classified substitutes will be available in the building on an as needed basis. There will be a staffed Care Room for students and support in the staff room for staff. Further information will be shared at the staff meeting. I will be acting as the point person with the family. Name has agreed to be the staff contact and can be reached at Number.
Times like these remind us of how important it is to come together to value, support, and care for each other.
Sincerely,
Administrator
In a Stand-Up Meeting
When it is not possible to inform staff before they arrive at school, it is recommended that the administrator call a Stand-Up Meeting for staff before school starts. Similarly, if the tragedy is learned of during the school day, it is recommended that the administrator call a Stand-Up Meeting for staff immediately after school.
Please refer to the section on Morning Stand-Up Meetings.