NMS Students Cope

With The Loss Of One Of Their Own

By Eliza Hallabeck

Newtown Middle School is a sad school right now, according to Principal Diane Sherlock, because the death of a 13-year-old eighth grade student on Saturday, November 8, has sent ripples throughout the school’s community.

Ms Sherlock said it was important for the school to notify students immediately of the death of 13-year-old Brennan Merrick. On Sunday, when the administrators received the news, calls were made by each homeroom teacher to their students’ homes.

“The kids have been wonderful,” said Ms Sherlock. “The kids have been hurting, and they are working through this.”

The school assembled a crisis team to meet on Sunday at noon, and were available for students, parents, and staff from 2 pm until 4 pm. By Monday a crisis room had been set up in the school, and all students and teachers were welcomed to utilize it.

The teachers who had the student in seventh and eighth grade also gathered together early, at 6 am, and the rest of the staff joined them half an hour after. The student’s cluster had an extended homeroom period for the teachers to discuss the event with all students.

Since Saturday, Ms Sherlock said the school has been trying to take care of all the students and adults who are grieving.

Monday morning’s moment of silence was dedicated to Brennan, and Ms Sherlock also gave an announcement to remind all students of their peer’s accomplishments in life.

“So many of you who were his friends,” said Ms Sherlock in the announcement, “tell me he was one great kid and a terrific student, really good in math, he was in our integrated math class.”

She went on to say most of his teachers saw Brennan as quiet, but his friends describe him as having lots of friends and always being a funny person. He was active in Boy Scouts, loved athletics, was on the swim team since third grade, and he was good at every sport, among many other things.

Letting the kids talk about their shared experiences and all their memories seems to be the thing that is helping the most at the school, according to Ms Sherlock.

Guidance counselor Susan Connelly said the students have been sharing lots of stories about their peer, and all of the parents have been responding to the loss. Ms Connelly said parents have been calling to ask how they can help their children cope at home with the loss.

Ms Sherlock said calling each student’s home on Sunday was a helpful thing, because the parents were able to first discuss the impact of the event with their children in their home environment.

“We’re handling everything in small groups,” said Ms Sherlock. “We’re just trying to get through this week.”

A memorial for the student is in the future, but for now the school is helping itself heal, according to Ms Sherlock.

Students at the school also created a wall covered with paper for each student to sign a message for their lost peer or his family. Ms Sherlock and Ms Connelly presented the large paper to the Merrick family on November 12, along with other creations by the students.

Ms Connelly said the students have all been an incredible support for each other, and each of them are processing the loss in their own way.

Parents and students have also been encouraged to call the guidance office at the school (426-7644) and Ms Sherlock’s office (426-7642), along with grieving support facilities like Healing Hearts in Danbury (797-1685) and The Cove in Meriden (426-7642).