Section 2.1: School Related Operations

Approved: September 18, 2001

Revised: December 1, 2020

TRAGIC EVENTS RESPONSE

1.0             Rationale

District School Board Ontario North East (DSB1) is committed to ensuring the well-being of our students and staff. Therefore, all schools will have plans and supports in place to deal with tragic events.

Tragedies occur which affect the students and staff of a school.  The task of coping with such tragedies is shared by the school and related professionals.  An appropriate response will be determined by the facts of the events. A tragic event can trigger unresolved grief from previous losses, and we must be prepared to deal with both.

It is the responsibility of the school principal to develop a crisis management plan and to form a Tragic Events Response Team (TERT) to carry out that plan. This ensures that schools are able to respond quickly and effectively to a tragedy.  The attached procedure, the “Tragic Events Response Manual”, governs the response of the school or Board Office in the event of a tragedy.

2.0             Definitions

Tragic Event: A tragic event is a significant event that disrupts the emotional and physical well-being of students and staff members. Within this broad umbrella are crises and traumatic events, which may require somewhat different responses.  A tragic event may include but is not limited to the following:  

• death (expected or sudden) of a current or former student, staff member, parent or sibling of a student, spouse or child of a staff member, by any means; 
• serious accident involving a student or staff member; 
• serious illness of a student or staff member. 

Tragic Event Response Team:  The Tragic Events Response Team (TERT) is composed of school staff members and supported by the Board Mental Health Team.  The TERT will put a crisis management plan into effect and will provide leadership in a crisis. The TERT may also choose to seek support and resources from external agencies and partners.

Crisis Management Plan: A crisis management plan provides direction for the school during a crisis. 

3.0             Policy

DSB1 is committed to ensuring the well-being of our students and staff.  Therefore, all schools will have plans and supports in place to deal with tragic events.  

Appendices

Appendix A: Document Name 

References