93.3 KWTO Keeping Watch Over the Ozarks
Nixa school officials have confirmed the death of an 8th grade student today at Nixa Junior High.
The incident is currently being investigated by the Christian County Sheriff’s Department, who will be releasing more details about the incident.
The Nixa school district sent a letter to parents and guardians about the incident that read in part:
(Note: The school district released the student’s name in a letter to parents, however, because of our policy that we do not release the name of an underage victim without confirmation of next of kin notification, we are withholding the victim’s name.)
December 15, 2020
Dear Parents and Guardians:
The faculty and staff of Nixa Junior High regret to inform you that today, a tragic event occurred on our campus resulting in the death of [student name withheld] one of our 8th graders. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the family.
Today in class, the teachers, crisis response team, and counselors talked with the students about the situation and their feelings. Please be sensitive to any changes in your child’s behavior. Over the next few days, encourage your child to express his or her feelings and listen attentively.
It will be helpful to recognize the various steps we all go through in the grieving process: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Some of the common reactions that children experience when reacting to a traumatic event are the following:
- Restlessness, nervous behavior
- Trouble concentrating
- Difficulty sleeping, nightmares
- “Clingy” behavior, fear of being alone
- Asking questions over and over again
- Remembering previous losses and events
If you have any concerns about your child’s reactions to this loss, feel free to contact your child’s teacher, the school counselors, or the administrative staff.
If you have a Nixa Junior High student who needs to speak to a counselor, call 417-724-6440.