Dear Oak Ridge Parents and Students,



I apologize that I am unable to share such sensitive information with you in person. However, I needed to let you know before we return to school on Monday that we have been made aware of the unexpected death of Mr. LaJeunesse, our Media Specialist, affectionately known as “Mr. LJ”,.

Mr. LJ started working at Oak Ridge during the 2019-2020 school year, but quickly became a beloved member of our school family. In addition to working in the Media Center, he also worked closely with our WOAK Morning News Team and Student Council. We are saddened by the news of his death and he will be sorely missed by all. We don’t have a great deal of details surrounding his passing, but I know that we will all keep his family in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Our school’s Crisis Response Team is available to provide support to students and staff. Children will react in different ways to this, so please look for signs that your child might be experiencing some difficulties understanding and processing the death of Mr. LJ. If you feel your child is in need of special assistance or is having a great deal of difficulty coping with this loss, please contact the school at 850-488-3124. Given the current limitations on face-to-face contact, the support will likely include connecting your student with someone via technology if he/she is a Digital Academy student. Both our School Counselor, Mrs. Goolsby and School Psychologist, Mrs. Cottingham are available for support if needed.

Our thoughts are with Mr. LJ’s family and each of you during this difficult time. Please observe your child/ren closely over the next several days and weeks to watch for signs of distress, which may indicate a need for additional support and guidance. Please feel free to contact our School Counselor, Mrs. Goolsby, if you have any concerns or questions regarding your child, or the steps being taken by the school to address this loss.



Sincerely,



Dr. Jasmine C. Smith

Principal



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 *SUNSHINE LAW AND PUBLIC RECORDS CAUTION: Florida has a very broad Public Records Law. Virtually all written communications to or from School Board of Leon County, Florida Personnel are public records available to the public and media upon request. E-mail sent or received on the LCSB system will be considered public and will only be withheld from disclosure if deemed confidential pursuant to State Law. Individual student records are deemed confidential.