Groton School Principals Meet This Morning in Response to Newtown Shootings

Groton Public Schools will have counselors at each school this morning to help students and staff concerned about the Newtown school shootings, and will hold a candlelight vigil tonight.

The school board meeting scheduled for today has been cancelled. Fitch High School posted a notice on its website that all exterior doors are locked all day and that anyone visiting the school must enter through the main entrance at the front of the building.

"Students are not to open exterior doors for anyone," the notice said.

Grasso Tech Principal Patricia Feeney said a state trooper was at the school at 6 a.m. to make sure all doors were locked and students safely arrived at the building. He remained at the school after students arrived to ensure it was secure, she said.

“We will be talking to the students about safety and exiting out through doors and things like that,” she said, but added, “today we’re specifically looking at providing support for the staff and students.”

Groton Public Schools' posted this response to the Newtown tragedy on its website:

"First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with those impacted by the Newtown tragedy.  In addition to our community vigil Monday evening at 7 p.m. at Robert E. Fitch High School, Groton Public Schools has taken the following steps in response to the Newtown Tragedy:

1. Each school building faculty will have a meeting Monday morning to review the appropriate steps to deal with students and/or adults who express difficulty over the Newtown tragedy.

2.  Support teams at each school will be available throughout the day to respond to individuals who need assistance.

3.  This informational document (click on link), prepared by National Association of School Psychologists, provides tips for parents, caregivers and teachers to plan for courageous conversations with students. 

Should you have additional questions or concerns, please contact your individual school."