February 3, 2003 6:40 AM

Time to take care of the children

Educators anticipate grief, anxiety in wake of Columbia tragedy

Students in the Clear Creek School District will go back to school today, but it will be anything but a normal Monday. Three of Columbia's astronauts had children who attend CCISD schools. The children who attend the schools and the adults who work there have a fair bit more to deal with than they might have imagined.

Sandra Mossman was a counselor in a Clear Creek intermediate school when the Challenger exploded in 1986, killing seven astronauts on board, including a teacher.

Now as Clear Creek's superintendent, Mossman anticipates the grief and anxiety of students who are returning to school today after yet another tragedy involving people from their community.

Mossman on Sunday posted a videotaped message on the school district's Web site, urging parents to encourage their children "to be especially sensitive to the children of those fine people who lost their lives."

Three of the astronauts have children in Clear Creek schools, which surround the Johnson Space Center. Officials, however, refused to say which astronauts and which schools, saying they want to protect the privacy of the children.

Mossman, who met with school principals and key administrators Sunday morning, said counselors will be available at all the schools today to talk to children and staff members who need emotional support.

Clear Creek teachers are being urged to lead students in a moment of silence after reading a statement prepared by the district about Saturday's disaster.

"It's not only the astronauts who lost their lives and their families that we grieve for," Mossman said. "It reaches so much further for us. The Johnson Space Center is an integral part of our community."

The whole country is grieving the loss of Columbia's seven astronauts. Here in Houston's Bay Area, the loss is particularly poignant. They were, as is all of NASA, a part of the community. It's going to take some time for this community, and it's children, to get over their shock and grief.

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on February 3, 2003 6:40 AM.

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