News & Events

Oconto Unified School Students' Fire Death (WI)

Description:

On Friday,1/17/20, HOPE was contacted by the Oconto Unified School District School Psychologist requesting HOPE teams for 1/21-1/22. They had received word that 3 students (6th, 8th & 9th grader) had perished in a house fire along with their mother and family pet. An Action Item was put out and 4 teams responded. On 1/21, two teams were assigned to the high school (HS) and two teams were assigned to the middle school(MS). All 4 teams greeted student as they entered their respective schools. First hour, grades were gathered in individual room and an announcement was made about the student deaths and where students could talk to counselors or spend time with the comfort dogs. In the HS, the teams were assigned to the Library and counselor's office. In the MS, teams were assigned to the 6th grade wing, ALR room, or counselor offices. All teams greeted students in the halls between classes if they were not comforting students. On 1/22, 2 teams were assigned to the HS and 2 teams to the MS. One team left at noon, which left one team at the HS. More time was spent in individual classrooms in the MS and in the HS; teams spent more time in the library or counselors area. At the end of the day, HOPE had their own debrief in the MS office.

Keena Jones/Bella, Karen Alvord/Charles, Shay Jacobson/Tazer, Laura Fruci/Gioia