At the Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, two kids who passed violently over the past week have left their school in mourning.
The passing of Michael Nwaulu and Cayliy Haygood has shocked the neighborhood, and the school has requested the aid of a support group of school psychologists and counselors to assist mourning kids in coping with their loss.
12th-Grade Student Michael Nwaulu Was Fatally Shot, And Another Teen Injured
Michael Nwaulu, a 12th-grade student, was shot and killed on March 2nd, along with another teenager who remains hospitalized.
Nwaulu died at the scene, and the police have yet to identify any suspects or release any information about the killing.
In a letter to relatives, Principal Taryn Washington remembered Nwaulu as having “an easygoing and carefree attitude.”
Cayliy Haygood, Age 18, Perishes In A car Accident Just Over A Mile From The School
A few days later, on Tuesday morning, 18-year-old Cayliy Haygood died in a car crash less than a mile from the school.
She was traveling with her boyfriend when their car collided with a landscaping trailer on Ritchie Marlboro Road near Marlboro Pointe Drive. Haygood died at the scene, and her boyfriend remains hospitalized.
Principal’s Tips For Coping With Grief: Accuracy, Listening, And Expression
The school has extended support to its students and their families through a support team, and Principal Washington has offered suggestions for coping with grief.
In the letter, she advised parents to speak to their children about the crisis, provide accurate information, and listen carefully to their thoughts and feelings.
She also suggested giving extra physical affection, spending individualized time with children, encouraging them to share their feelings, and writing letters or drawing pictures to cope.
The school community is still reeling from the loss of these two young students, and both incidents remain under investigation.
As Principal Washington stated in her letter, the support team will be available for as long as necessary, and the school is working to ensure that students have the resources they need to process their grief and begin healing.
