School board feeling ‘immense impact of the tragic events’

The flags at Boreal French Immersion and Superior Heights are flying at half mast today in respect to three young children — aged 6, 7, and twelve — who were among the five killed in a murder-suicide late Monday night.

As police continue to investigate the crime scenes at two homes — one on Tancred Street, the other on Second Line East — the Algoma District School Board said they “continue to feel the immense impact of the tragic events.”

“Our hearts continue to go out to all family, friends, students and staff who have been affected by this loss,” ADSB Director of Education Lucia Reece wrote in an email to SooToday.

A traumatic events response team are at both schools this week to aid students and staff who need support, said Reece.

“We are working to support all our students and staff, knowing that grief is unique to everyone,” she wrote. “Members of the Algoma District School Board's traumatic events response team have been on-site at impacted schools and will remain on site to support teachers with assisting students in the best way possible, with helping students who may need additional levels of support, and with managing their own self-care.”

“We have also provided families with a resource related to talking to children about a tragic event, which may be helpful for families wishing to do so,” she added.

The school board says they are urging residents to respect the privacy and grieving process of the families involved, as well as the school communities who were directly impacted, and anyone else in Sault Ste. Marie who is struggling with the tragedy.

ADSB also wants to remind the public this is an active police investigation, and they “encourage locals to rely on the Sault Ste. Marie Police for accurate information.”

On Tuesday, police confirmed the incidents were the result of intimate partner violence. The names of the accused and the victims are not being released at this time.

SooToday will have ongoing coverage of the tragedy throughout the day.

Below is the full statement released by Lucia Reece:

The Algoma District School Board community continues to feel the immense impact of the tragic events which took place in the city of Sault Ste. Marie earlier this week, resulting in the loss of three students.

At this time, and over the next few days and weeks, we urge everyone to respect the privacy and grieving process of the families, the school communities that were impacted, and Sault Ste. Marie as a whole.

We are working to support all our students and staff, knowing that grief is unique to everyone. Members of the Algoma District School Board's traumatic events response team have been on-site at impacted schools and will remain on site to support teachers with assisting students in the best way possible, with helping students who may need additional levels of support, and with managing their own self-care.

We have also provided families with a resource related to talking to children about a tragic event, which may be helpful for families wishing to do so.

Please remember that this is an active police investigation, and as such, we encourage community members to rely on the Sault Ste. Marie Police for accurate information.

Our hearts continue to go out to all family, friends, students and staff who have been affected by this loss.