Dear Medway High School Community:
It is with great sadness that we share with you the news of the loss of one of our students. We received word that Devin Ehrmanntraut, a junior at Medway High School, passed away late Friday. We have learned from his family that he was not feeling well before school on Friday and was en route to the hospital when he lost consciousnesses. Sadly, attempts to revive Devin were unsuccessful, and it was discovered that fluid was found around his heart.
Many students may have already heard this news from their peers by word of mouth, text, or social media; receiving word of a tragedy like this may cause different reactions. Some students show little or no concern about this death, while others may experience feelings such as shock, fear, anger, hurt, sadness, or confusion. As a parent or guardian of one of our students, please be assured that we will support you and your students through this difficult time.
Starting immediately, and through the coming days, we will be offering a number of supports for our students, families and staff, with our counseling team available for anyone who wish to seek out their support:
- Saturday, September 14 from 10:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
- Sunday, September 15 from 2:00-5:00 p.m.
We will also have counselors available for students throughout the day on Monday, and we urge you to have your students seek them out for any reason should they feel the need.
In addition, we hope the following suggestions are of assistance to you:
- Your child needs you now. Be there for him/her.
- Let your child talk, write, or draw about his/her feelings.
- An event like this may cause a child to recall past feelings about death of family members or friends. Allow your child to express those feelings freely.
- Your child may express the fear that you or other family members will die. This is a very realistic and common fear. Assure your child that you are there for him/her.
- Let your child know that it is okay to experience anger, guilt, hurt, sadness – and that sometimes those feelings overlap. It is okay for your child to see you express your sadness as well.
- The behavior of children may change temporarily. For example, s/he may become more restless, have trouble sleeping, act more hostile, or become more withdrawn.
The most important thing to remember is that we are all there for your child: faculty, support staff, parents, community. Be gentle, understanding, and, above all, just listen.
We have also found these links helpful for families and students as they navigate these tense and difficult waters:
Again, our counseling staff is available throughout the next several days. Feel free to contact any of them during the times listed above, if we can be of assistance to your family.
I know that you join us in offering condolences and prayers to the Ehrmanntraut family and their friends during this difficult time.
Most sincerely,
Dr. Douglas Dias
Principal
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