LGSD Family School Safety

A Message to LGSD Families: School Safety and Support

Dear LGSD Families and Staff,

Our hearts continue to be with the students, staff, families, and entire Bend community
following the tragic school shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School. Events like this are
heartbreaking and remind us how important it is to care for and support one another.

I want to reassure our families that the safety and well-being of our students and staff remain
among our highest priorities. Throughout La Grande School District, we have emergency safety
plans and procedures in place, regularly practice emergency response drills, and work closely
with local law enforcement and emergency responders to strengthen school safety and
preparedness.

Just as important are the relationships we build with our students and families. Creating
schools where students feel safe, connected, supported, and cared for is something we work
toward every day.

Supporting Our Children

We recognize that news of this tragedy may bring feelings of sadness, fear, or uncertainty. We
encourage families to listen to their children, answer questions in age-appropriate ways, and
remind them that caring adults are here to help. Our school counselors, administrators, and
support staff are available if your child needs additional support.

I also want to share some helpful resources from the National Association of School
Psychologists and Cheri Lovre, a nationally recognized school crisis response expert with roots
in Central Oregon. I've had the opportunity to attend several of Cheri's trainings throughout my
career, and they have been among the most valuable I've experienced. Much of our district's
approach to school crisis response has been informed by her work.

Helpful Resources for Families and Staff

• Talking to Children About Violence — National Association of School Psychologists
• Helping Children Navigate Anxiety and Difficult Events — Crisis Management Institute This
includes practical suggestions for parents, particularly toward the bottom of the page, on
how to approach difficult conversations with children.
• Helping Children with Tragic Events in the News – PBS for Parents

As we keep the Bend community in our thoughts, please know that we remain committed to
doing everything we can to provide safe, welcoming, and caring schools for every student.

Thank you for your continued trust, partnership, and support of our schools.
George Mendoza