Salem Schools Plan to Help Returning Students Cope With Bombing

As Salem's public school students prepare to return to class for the first time since the Marathon bombings, school officials say they are prepared to help any pupils having difficulty.

Superintendent Steve Russell wrote a letter to Salem parents over the weekend.

"In the event that you have concerns about your own child’s reactions, please don’t hesitate to make your child’s teacher and/or guidance counselor aware of these concerns," the letter read. It is often common for a delayed reaction to occur as young people attempt to interpret what they’ve experienced and witnessed in the face of difficult life events."

Russell went on to say that while no "special nor formal school-wide announcements are planned," that staff will be ready to help all students.

He said several schools will be doing positive activities like mailing cards and planning walk-a-thons.

Russell also offered tips to parents about talking with their children about the bombings, which killed three people and injured nearly 200. A chaotic Thursday and Friday left one suspected bomber dead, an MIT police officer slain and included a tense manhunt that ended with the apprehension of the second suspected bomber in Watertown.

Among the Salem connections to the past week's events are that one Salem family suffered injuries in the bombing, that the father of 8-year-old Martin Richard, Bill, is a graduate of Salem High and that the slain MIT police officer, Sean Collier, graduated from Salem State.

You may read the full letter at this link.