A​ ​Message​ ​from​ ​the​ ​Wauconda​ ​School​ ​District​ ​118​ ​Crisis​ ​Team​ ​-​ ​9.16.17 It​ ​is​ ​with​ ​great​ ​sadness​ ​that​ ​we​ ​must​ ​inform​ ​you​ ​about​ ​the​ ​unexpected​ ​loss​ ​of​ ​one​ ​of​ ​our​ ​staff​ ​members,​ ​Mr.​ ​Joseph Ryback.​ ​Mr.​ ​Ryback​ ​has​ ​been​ ​with​ ​the​ ​District​ ​since​ ​2011.​ ​This​ ​year​ ​he​ ​was​ ​a​ ​Physical​ ​Education​ ​teacher​ ​at​ ​Wauconda Middle​ ​School​ ​and​ ​Matthews​ ​Middle​ ​School,​ ​an​ ​Adapted​ ​Physical​ ​Education​ ​teacher​ ​at​ ​Robert​ ​Crown​ ​School​ ​and​ ​coach at​ ​Wauconda​ ​High​ ​School. If​ ​your​ ​child​ ​had​ ​or​ ​knew​ ​Mr.​ ​Ryback​ ​as​ ​a​ ​teacher​ ​or​ ​coach,​ ​we​ ​encourage​ ​you​ ​to​ ​talk​ ​with​ ​your​ ​child.​ ​How​ ​we,​ ​as​ ​adults, manage​ ​ourselves​ ​serves​ ​as​ ​an​ ​important​ ​model​ ​for​ ​helping​ ​kids​ ​handle​ ​situations​ ​like​ ​this.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​important​ ​that​ ​they​ ​know they​ ​are​ ​loved​ ​and​ ​supported​ ​as​ ​they​ ​talk​ ​about​ ​their​ ​feelings. Our​ ​deepest​ ​sympathies​ ​go​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Ryback​ ​family.​ ​We​ ​care​ ​deeply​ ​for​ ​all​ ​involved.​ ​We​ ​will​ ​have​ ​counselors​ ​available​ ​at Wauconda​ ​High​ ​School​ ​from​ ​1:00​ ​-​ ​3:00​ ​p.m.​ ​tomorrow,​ ​Sunday,​ ​September​ ​17,​ ​2017​ ​for​ ​any​ ​student​ ​who​ ​requires additional​ ​support.​ ​Counselors​ ​are​ ​always​ ​available​ ​during​ ​the​ ​school​ ​day​ ​to​ ​assist​ ​students​ ​should​ ​they​ ​need​ ​it.​ ​Please see​ ​below​ ​for​ ​resources​ ​on​ ​helping​ ​your​ ​child​ ​cope​ ​with​ ​grief​ ​and​ ​loss. Tips​ ​for​ ​Parents​ ​On​ ​How​ ​To​ ​Talk​ ​With​ ​Your​ ​Child​ ​About​ ​Grief​ ​and​ ​Loss ● Tell​ ​the​ ​truth.​ ​Explain​ ​the​ ​situation​ ​in​ ​a​ ​way​ ​that​ ​relates​ ​to​ ​your​ ​child's​ ​needs ● Allow​ ​for​ ​your​ ​child​ ​to​ ​talk​ ​about​ ​feelings.​ ​If​ ​this​ ​is​ ​the​ ​first​ ​loss​ ​your​ ​child​ ​has​ ​experienced,​ ​your​ ​child​ ​may​ ​not know​ ​how​ ​to​ ​respond​ ​and​ ​will​ ​be​ ​looking​ ​for​ ​your​ ​guidance. ● Affirm​ ​all​ ​expressions.​ ​It’s​ ​okay​ ​to​ ​express​ ​feelings​ ​honestly.​ ​Tolerate​ ​the​ ​expressions​ ​rather​ ​than​ ​dismissing​ ​them or​ ​discouraging​ ​the​ ​expression​ ​of​ ​feelings. ● Encourage​ ​written​ ​expressions​ ​such​ ​notes,​ ​letters,​ ​pictures​ ​to​ ​the​ ​family​ ​etc. ● Reaffirm​ ​that​ ​your​ ​child​ ​is​ ​safe​ ​and​ ​that​ ​your​ ​child​ ​is​ ​loved. ● Affirm​ ​that​ ​your​ ​child’s​ ​reaction​ ​is​ ​normal​ ​and​ ​you​ ​understand​ ​the​ ​way​ ​the​ ​child’s​ ​feels. ● Watch​ ​for​ ​signs​ ​of​ ​trouble​ ​such​ ​as​ ​aggression,​ ​withdrawal​ ​etc. ● Help​ ​the​ ​children​ ​return​ ​to​ ​as​ ​normal​ ​routine​ ​as​ ​possible. Additional​ ​Resources​ ​for​ ​Parents ● Contact​ ​Support​ ​Services​ ​in​ ​your​ ​child’s​ ​school. ● Grief​ ​Support​ ​Resources​ ​in​ ​Lake​ ​County ● Parent​ ​Handout:​ ​Children’s​ ​Reactions​ ​to​ ​Critical​ ​Incidents ● Grieving​ ​Student​ ​Information:​ ​Coalition​ ​to​ ​Support​ ​Grieving​ ​Students ● Suicide​ ​Prevention: ○ Preventing​ ​Suicide:​ ​Information​ ​from​ ​the​ ​National​ ​Alliance​ ​on​ ​Mental​ ​Illness ○ Preventing​ ​Youth​ ​Suicide:​ ​Information​ ​from​ ​the​ ​National​ ​Association​ ​of​ ​School​ ​Psychologists ○ Text​ ​a​ ​Tip ○ McHelp​ ​(24/7​ ​texting​ ​service​ ​for​ ​middle​ ​school/high​ ​school​ ​students) ○ National​ ​Suicide​ ​Prevention​ ​Lifeline:​ ​1-800-273-8255