The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

TWO TEACHERS at Garvin Tynes Primary School were rushed to hospital yesterday morning after learning that one of their fellow teachers had died the night before.

According to Julian Anderson, Superintendent for the Western district, a sixth grade teacher at the school, Mrs Rowann Thompson, died late Tuesday night sending shock waves through the entire school.

Because students and teachers were “visibly” traumatised, Mr Anderson said the primary school closed shortly after 10am and parents were asked to collect the children from the school’s campus. In the meantime, students and teachers were offered grief counselling by local pastors in the community, who volunteered their services when they learned what had happened.

“What happened was, yesterday evening one of the teachers at Garvin Tynes Primary School died and so the staff is distraught and the teachers are distraught and what makes it more impactful is this is the third death for the school for this calendar year,” Mr Anderson said. “So, some of the teachers were shaken up and we had to rush two teachers in a private car with the school nurse to the hospital because they passed out and their pressure was sky high.

“We were concerned for them and the mental health of the students so we thought it best to close school for the day. We also offered grief counselling services to the teachers and students. Angela Palacious and other members of the clergy came and offered their services.”

When The Tribune arrived at the school, some students and teachers were visibly shaken, many of them in tears. School is expected to resume today, with grief services being offered to students who might need it.