Dear Parents and Carers,

It is with great sadness that I write to inform you of the death of our colleague and dear friend, Emily Weston, who has taught Art and Photography at Ringwood School for 24 years.

Emily was such a vivacious person, and her compassion, wisdom, optimism, humour and genuine all-round loveliness is something that we will all miss terribly. Emily made a lasting impact on everyone who knew her and our thoughts are with her family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.

We informed students in Years 7/8/9/10/12 and those students in Year 11 and 13 who were taught by Emily this year of this news in school today in a carefully considered way, with staff on hand to support them. When someone dies, young people may experience many different feelings. Some students may feel shocked and upset by the news, while others may be confused or numb. These reactions are all normal. We understand this range of responses, and we aim to support students according to their needs.

Support is available within school for any student who needs it. Our pastoral team, including tutors, Heads of Year and trained support staff, are available to listen, talk, and provide reassurance. If you feel your child may need additional support, please do not hesitate to contact us so that we can ensure they receive the help they need.

At home, you may wish to support your child by:

• Encouraging them to talk about how they feel, and listening without judgement
• Reassuring them that a wide range of emotions is normal
• Maintaining routines, which can provide a sense of stability
• Monitoring changes in behaviour or mood, such as withdrawal, anxiety, or difficulty sleeping
• Being honest in your responses to their questions

For more information about speaking to young people about death, visit the Child Bereavement UK website www.childbereavementuk.org.

We will continue to support our school community through this difficult time and will keep you informed of how we will remember and honour Emily and her significant contribution to the school.

As a close community, we know that there may be ex-students and other members of Year11 and Year 13 who will have been taught by Emily in previous years and who will be shocked and saddened by this news. We will be reaching out to the community to give them an opportunity to share memories of Emily in the coming weeks. For members of current Year 11 and 13, they can, of course, contact us if they need support.

Thank you for your support and understanding.

Yours sincerely,

Leanne Symonds