March 20, 2021
Dear Shrewsbury Families,
Many of you have seen the news of the tragedy that occurred in our community yesterday, where a mother and her 12-year-old daughter were found dead in their home. The Shrewsbury Police Department has communicated that there is no threat to the public, and that the deaths are under investigation.
On behalf of the school district, our deepest sympathies go out to the surviving husband/father and son/brother.
Because of the need to notify family members outside of the country, the authorities have not released the identity of the family. I can inform you at this time that the 12-year-old girl was not a Shrewsbury Public Schools student. Her brother is a student at Shrewsbury High School.
The crisis team at Shrewsbury High School met earlier today to plan support for the girl’s brother and other SHS students who may be affected. The crisis team at Sherwood Middle School also met earlier today to plan for how to support students who knew the deceased girl. More information will be sent this weekend to SHS and Sherwood families regarding how students may access support. Below, school district families can find links to email contacts for your child’s school if you wish to connect with a counselor regarding a non-urgent concern.
It is important to note that when a tragedy occurs in a community, it can affect people who are not connected to those directly involved. We know that there are many youth and family members in our community struggling with mental health and well-being issues that have been exacerbated by the pandemic. If you or your child needs assistance, the information below will help connect you to someone who can help. Please reach out for help if you need it.
Respectfully,
Joe Sawyer
Superintendent of Schools
Emergency Services
If you or someone you know is at risk of harming themselves or others, please call 911 immediately
UMass Memorial Emergency Mental Health & Youth Mobile Crisis
1-866-549-2142
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741
https://www.crisistextline.org/text-us/
Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-8255
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
Grief, Mental Health & Well-Being Resources and School Contacts
National Association of School Psychologists: Helping Children With Grief
Handhold website with information for parents worried or concerned about their child’s mental health or well-being
Signs of Suicide Parent Resources
https://sossignsofsuicide.org/parent
Shrewsbury Youth & Family Services (Counseling & Support Services)
Shrewsbury Public Schools Suicide Awareness Information Page
https://schools.shrewsburyma.gov/district/suicide-awareness
Sherwood Middle School Mental Health & Wellness Resources & Counselor Contacts
https://schools.shrewsburyma.gov/sherwood/mentalhealth
Oak Middle School Mental Health & Wellness Resources & Counselor Contacts
https://schools.shrewsburyma.gov/oak/mentalhealth
Shrewsbury High School Mental Health & Wellness Resources & Counselor Contacts
https://schools.shrewsburyma.gov/high/mentalhealth
For all other district schools, you can find resources and counselor contacts by going to the school’s website and choosing “Mental Health & Wellness Resources” from the menu on the left of the page.