Chapter 3: After a student’s death

Supporting students’ grief


What the educator says
Shane Dilka, resource/learning support teacher, talks about supporting students and staff after a student dies.(3:22)
Shane Dilka, resource/learning support teacher, talks about supporting staff grief.(3:22)Video transcript

“It was hard to see how upset my students were when I told them. It was harder to discern how to support them because they all reacted in different ways”. – Teacher

In addition to providing information about a student’s death, it’s important to normalize and make time and space for expressions of grief.

Factors that affect grief 

Click on the arrows to view the many factors that can influence a student’s grief process.


Tip  

It’s crucial to notify parents of other students as soon as possible, either by phone or by email, so that they’re prepared to support their children. Letters alone should not be used for this initial notification but may be practical for any follow-up communication that offers additional.