WESTFIELD – Franklin Avenue Elementary school made a presentation to the School Committee on Wednesday about its Grief Group, which Principal Frances St. Peter said is a way to build connections between students in the school that have experienced the loss of a loved one, and meet their social and emotional needs.
Second grader Mikayla Pierce talks about the Grief Group to the School Committee on Wednesday.
School adjustment councilor Kate Fahey told the School Committee that when she was first approached by clinician Jill Adams from Noble Visiting Nurses about the group, she hesitated to bring kids from K-5 together during the day to share their grief. Then she said when the opioid epidemic grew, and having spoken to other schools in the district with groups, she called her in. She said this is the second year of the program, and she can’t say enough about Adams.
Adams said the concept, which is hard for adults to understand, is to give students a place to facilitate normal healthy grieving twice a month. She said she began the groups eighteen years ago at Westfield High School, and now has over 200 students in three districts, including Agawam and Southwick. She said Franklin Avenue has ten students in the group, which she leads with fellow clinician Carrie Walker-Ray.
Grief Group clinician leaders Jill Adams and Carrie Walker-Ray with Franklin Avenue members Kobe Perrier and Mikayla and Ava Pierce.
Adams then introduced two second grade members of Franklin Avenue’s Grief Group. Kobe Perrier said he started going after his grandmother died. “It was a sad time for my family and me,” Kobe said. He said the group helps by talking about their losses and helping other friends. “It’s a place for kids to get together and share common stuff,” he said describing the program before the meeting began.
Mikayla Pierce lost her infant sibling to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. “My favorite thing is being around others who understand how I feel,” she said. Mikayla said she also likes all the games that they play. “Games that help us with our losses,” she added. Her sister Ava, who is in kindergarten, is the newest member in the group.
Walker-Ray showed a memorial quilt and a book of life the children make which help them to tell stories about the relationship they had with their loved ones, and their significance in their lives. She said the children in the groups, the majority of whom have lost a parent, are most afraid that they will forget.
Adams said kids can come back to Grief Group as long as they need to. She said it’s not uncommon for her to work with a child for six, seven or eight years. “It’s a privilege to be a part of this school and this program,” she said.
