Letter from administration regarding student death

The following is a letter from Mohonasen Superintendent of Schools Shannon Shine and Bradt Principal Leslie Smith:

“Dear Mohonasen Community,

It is with sorrow and pain I write to inform you of the untimely death of one of our Bradt students, second-grader Mark Lombardi. His passing was due to an acute medical condition.

Elementary students have just been released for summer vacation, so they were not aware of Mark’s death when they left school today. Bradt and Pinewood faculty and staff were informed right after students went home. This means that for many of our students, you as parents/guardians will be the ones to tell them about this sad news.

This news will be shocking and troubling for some students. It is important that parents and guardians support children for whom this is particularly impactful. If you need assistance or guidance from our Crisis Team, please contact the district via any staff member so we can follow up accordingly. You may also reach the Bradt Main Office by phone at 518-356-8400. Should you need specific information regarding how to best support your child, the following resources may be helpful to you:

• “Children and Grief” (Hospice Foundation of America)
• “How to Talk to Kids about Death” (Child Development Institute)
• Hospice Grief Services: See “Helpful Handouts” at the bottom of the page. You may also call 518-724-0200 for free Hospice counseling at any time.
• “Helping Children Cope with Loss, Death and Grief” (National Association of School Psychologists)

On campus we have guidance counselors, social workers and grief counselors (our Crisis Team), in addition to fellow teachers and administrators, assisting and counseling faculty and staff. If you are a staff member who needs assistance, or if you know of a staff member who needs assistance, please let any member of the Crisis Team know and we will follow up immediately.

The family has indicated that funeral services will be held at the DeMarco-Stone Funeral Home (1605 Helderberg Ave., Rotterdam) and will be open to the public. The date and time, when they are known, will be published in the Schenectady Gazette and on the funeral home’s website, https://www.demarcostonefuneralhome.com/.

Today I have witnessed faculty and staff extending peace, comfort and love to one another as they share in this grief with the Mohonasen Community at large. I encourage parents, students and families to do the same.

In Sorrow,

Leslie A. Smith

Bradt Principal

Shannon Shine

Superintendent of Schools”