With the Newtown, Connecticut school shooting still fresh in the minds of everyone on both sides of the border, the Surrey school district was letting parents know that support and counselling was available, should their children need it.

In a notice sent home with students Friday afternoon, the Surrey school district reminded parents that should their child feel anxious or need support after learning about that day's shooting, resources were available from the district to address those needs.

"We've done it in all cases since I've been here," said Doug Strachan, district manager of communications. "Parents have asked us for support in situations like these before, so we routinely remind them we have help available."

Strachan said the notices are a result of parents requesting such information during similar events in the past.

And while there have been two complaints received regarding the use of the word "shooting" in the notice, Strachan said the word shouldn't have made it into the notice.

"We normally don't try to get into details as to what occurred," he said. "'Shooting' was something we wouldn't normally put in there; however, it was quickly written in the afternoon and slipped in there because of the tight timeline to get information to parents on a Friday."

As for how people around the district are doing, Strachan said people are rattled.

"Obviously, everybody is shaken by something like this," he said.

As for whether or not teachers would be addressing the shooting with their students, Strachan said, "The approach is to stick to routines and keep an eye out and see if there are students in a state of anxiety. Otherwise things should be proceeding as normal."

cpoon@thenownewspaper.com

Twitter @questionchris