Dear Moravian Academy Community,

Update: October 13, 2023

Following the unthinkable violence of the recent attacks by Hamas in Israel and the trauma caused by the longstanding and ongoing conflict, Moravian Academy extends its love and light to all families, children, and citizens, especially innocent civilians who are suffering in the aftermath of the escalating crisis. 

This morning our faculty and staff gathered together on the Merle-Smith Campus for a professional development day to learn and grow together.  We began our day, however, with a moment of silence for the Israeli and Palestinian families suffering in the wake of the weekend attacks in Israel and the ongoing conflict in the region.  

Since this morning, we have learned that Americans were also killed in the attacks and are among those being held hostage.  Our thoughts and prayers are with these Americans who are experiencing the unimaginable. Tonight, we send love and light to all members of our community who are directly affected and offer support to those who have lost friends or family members. We also recognize that even if not directly impacted, some of our students and families are experiencing trauma and feel vulnerable. These are times when our cherished values of community show up even more.  To support you as a parent, at the bottom of this letter, I am including some curated resources from the National Association of Independent Schools.  I hope these are helpful; however, if your family or child is struggling, please let us know how we can support you further.

Moravian Academy is a beautifully diverse school, with students and community members of many faiths, races, cultures, and ethnicities.  Our faculty and staff value and honor every individual and strive to foster an environment that is psychologically safe for each community member to fully express their identities.  When conflict arises outside of our campuses, however, it can impact the emotions of students on our campuses. It is surely one of the most daunting times in history to be a young person.  Fortunately, in our tight-knit community, they have teachers that know them well, and we are committed to fostering a sense of belonging—even when it’s hard.

In partnership with you for your children,

Adrianne Finley Odell
Head of School

Curated Resources From NAIS:

Helping Children Cope with Upsetting News Events

• Helping Children Cope with Terrorism–Tips for Families and Educators (National Association of School Psychologists)
  
  
• Tips for Talking With and Helping Children and Youth Cope After a Disaster or Traumatic Event (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
  
  
• Talking to Children About Tragedies (American Academy of Pediatrics)
  
  
• Helping Children Cope After a Traumatic Event (Child Mind Institute)
  
  
• Promoting Compassion and Acceptance in Crisis (National Association of School Psychologists)
  
  
• Resilience in a Time of War: Tips for Parents and Teachers of Elementary School Children (American Psychological Association)

Media Consumption

• Explaining the News to Our Kids (Common Sense Media)
  
  
• Helping Children Cope with Frightening News (Child Mind Institute)
  
  
• How to Talk to Children about Difficult News (American Psychological Association)