Anderson High School students and staff had only just begun to grieve the loss of senior Brock Vogel when, three days later, another senior student died unexpectedly in her sleep.
Skylar Due was 18, according to the Hamilton County Coroner's Office. An investigation into her death is ongoing, officials with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office told The Enquirer Monday afternoon.
On Monday, Forest Hills Superintendent Scot Prebles canceled end of the semester exams at both Anderson and Turpin high schools.
"The loss of student life is tragic. Moments like these are hard to understand and process for students as well as staff, parents and community members," the district wrote in a Monday statement. The full statement can be found at the end of this story.
District spokesperson Angela Ingram said Due also attended Sherwood Elementary, Mercer Elementary, Wilson Elementary and Nagel Middle School. Funeral services have yet to be announced.
This was the second Anderson High School death in one week, and the fourth Anderson student to die in less than a year.
Funeral services for Vogel, a senior football player who died Tuesday morning, were held on Saturday, according to the 17-year-old's obituary on TP White & Sons Funeral Home.
In late April, Jeremy Bernstein died due to medical complications. He also attended Mercer preschool, Ayer Elementary and Nagel Middle School.
"Jeremy touched many lives within the district, from staff to students," the district wrote at the time.
Ninth-grader Carson Rutter died due to a medical condition in January. He attended Mercer Elementary, Ayer Elementary, Nagel Middle School and Anderson's virtual academy.
Exams will not be required for the first semester at Anderson or Turpin, officials said. Tuesday will be a full attendance school day for students and although attendance will be encouraged the rest of the week, it will not be required.
Instead of exams, officials said counseling services will be available during those times. Students who wish to still take their exams to boost their semester grade averages may do so.
"If your student does stay home, we strongly encourage you to make sure that they are not alone and have structured support," Turpin High School Principal David Spencer wrote to district families. "This decision was made with the belief it was in the best interest of our students and their mental health."
Trauma, mental health support offered
Betsy Ryan, Forest Hills director of special education and student programs, said the district has taken initial steps to both support the families of the deceased students and the current students who are grieving.
Ryan said the district has encouraged school attendance after each of these tragedies because, for many students, being in school – around friends, teachers and counselors who can offer direct support – during this difficult time is likely the best plan.
"We certainly don't want to mandate if a child is going through the grieving process and just needs to have time at home with family," she said. "But we also know that there's a process that can help a child if they're with their friends and where there are supports set up for them."
The district is also working to offer mental health resources for staff, Ryan said.
"That's something we're very concerned about. This has taken a toll on many staff and teachers and people who knew our students and are trying to also support the students who are grieving right now," Ryan said. "Our plan is to support our teachers and offer some additional individualized or small group (services)."
These losses, on top of the trauma and stress students have experienced due to the pandemic, is a lot for the community's children to handle.
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Mike Glen, founder of the Anderson Mental Health Collaborative, is also the parent of a freshman at Anderson.
"It's hard to put it into words. I mean, I can't imagine being a high school student right now, to be in their shoes," Glen said.
Glen told The Enquirer he dealt with a tragedy in his senior year of high school, when someone was accidentally shot and killed.
"It was devastating. So to have two (deaths) in one week, it's... we're hurting right now, as a community," Glen said.
But the youth mental health crisis is not unique to Anderson, or to Forest Hills, Glen said. Education experts across the country have been worried about student mental health for years, and problems have only expanded since the pandemic.
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The Anderson Mental Health Collaborative will host a virtual event, "Talking to Our Kids About Trauma," Wednesday at 7 p.m. The presentation will be held via Zoom with a psychologist from UC Health to discuss ways for parents to address grief and tragedy with their children. Parents from in and outside of Anderson Township are welcome to register for the event online.
Full statement from Forest Hills School District:
The loss of student life is tragic. Moments like these are hard to understand and process for students as well as staff, parents and community members. In times like these, our job as educators and school administrators is to remain vigilant and focused on our students and staff and to be aware and supportive of the school and community-based services available to them. We are grateful and appreciative of those that volunteer to help. FHSD employs a talented and expert team of school counselors, school psychologists, and other mental health professionals as well as additional expertise offered by support organizations within our community. At this time, we are working collaboratively with our volunteers and partners to provide the appropriate assistance needed for individual students, staff and families. We also extend heartfelt condolences to families and friends directly impacted.
The Forest Hills school board will meet Monday evening at Nagel Middle School for a regularly scheduled board business meeting.
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