Recent suicides at Langley HS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Langley parents: I am meeting with representatives this weekend and it is clear that Jeff will not welcome anything they have to add, important though it may be to the welfare of those students still attending.

Can you start a new general thread about students and emotional support systems and/or suicide? Maybe that would be OK and then a discussion can continue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Langley parents: I am meeting with representatives this weekend and it is clear that Jeff will not welcome anything they have to add, important though it may be to the welfare of those students still attending.

Kindly spin off. We'll met you over there. Thank you.
Signed, halfway point of 12 years as a Langley parent

[Anonymous]

*meet

[Anonymous]

None of us knows exactly what happened in this unspeakable, horrific tragedy. I fully respect discussing the AP issue at a more appropriate time. All I will say is that Langley has been extremely hard for for my child who is Not one of those kids, and I write here to offer this different perspective. While we all deal with our own grief here in our community, I just learned from friends of ours who live in Newton, Massachuetts that they had 3 suicides at their high school this year, with the most recent being this week. What does that have to do with us? While here is my opinion. These are both highly competitive, stressful areas with the same expectations for the kids. They are to Boston what this area is to DC. Although this generation or our own for that matter did not invent suicide, or depression, and it does not only happen in theses areas, I believe that we as a society need to examine what we are asking of our kids, whose young minds and bodies are all still developing at different rates. Some are ready and capable of dealing with this stress. Many are not, and it only takes a bit of family issues or whatever to send them over the edge. If they don't take these extreme measures, they still feel awful about themselves. Is this what we want? The last thing I will say, because I know we are trying to be positive and respectful, is that I read the email sent out by their principle and it was so sensitive, caring and talked about the wonderful qualities of this child, and so vastly different from what we got from our own leadership. I know - Enough of the Ragone bashing - (and the school systems in the Northeast are each unique to their own town as opposed to being under a large FCPS looking over his shoulder), but what a vastly different response to a horrendous circumstance. My heart goes out to the families and friends whose lives will be forever changed. I had a friend die when I was in 8th grade and for years, I had dreams of him and I am almost 50 now. I am so sad, and worried for all these kids, not just my own, but the point is that as a society, from crazy preschools to colleges expecting you to have already taken college courses before they will review your application, we need to many deep changes in our expectations.

[Anonymous]

16:27 - your thoughts will be a great discussion piece on the existing S/O thread. See you there.

[Anonymous]

Thank you - How do I get there? This is the first time I have ever been on a site like this. Just searching for something because of the heartache, and frankly, I have felt lots of support from others here who have not had a "Langley Kid" at Langley and did not have the means for private schools or moves. I appreciate the support and community regarding such heartache around these tragedies. I only offered my opinion that as a society we need to examine our values. Last thing I will say here.

[Anonymous]

Can someone pls post a link to the "meeting our kids' emotional needs" or similar on this forum? I can't do this well or easily, if at all, on my phone. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:None of us knows exactly what happened in this unspeakable, horrific tragedy. I fully respect discussing the AP issue at a more appropriate time. All I will say is that Langley has been extremely hard for for my child who is Not one of those kids, and I write here to offer this different perspective. While we all deal with our own grief here in our community, I just learned from friends of ours who live in Newton, Massachuetts that they had 3 suicides at their high school this year, with the most recent being this week. What does that have to do with us? While here is my opinion. These are both highly competitive, stressful areas with the same expectations for the kids. They are to Boston what this area is to DC. Although this generation or our own for that matter did not invent suicide, or depression, and it does not only happen in theses areas, I believe that we as a society need to examine what we are asking of our kids, whose young minds and bodies are all still developing at different rates. Some are ready and capable of dealing with this stress. Many are not, and it only takes a bit of family issues or whatever to send them over the edge. If they don't take these extreme measures, they still feel awful about themselves. Is this what we want? The last thing I will say, because I know we are trying to be positive and respectful, is that I read the email sent out by their principle and it was so sensitive, caring and talked about the wonderful qualities of this child, and so vastly different from what we got from our own leadership. I know - Enough of the Ragone bashing - (and the school systems in the Northeast are each unique to their own town as opposed to being under a large FCPS looking over his shoulder), but what a vastly different response to a horrendous circumstance. My heart goes out to the families and friends whose lives will be forever changed. I had a friend die when I was in 8th grade and for years, I had dreams of him and I am almost 50 now. I am so sad, and worried for all these kids, not just my own, but the point is that as a society, from crazy preschools to colleges expecting you to have already taken college courses before they will review your application, we need to many deep changes in our expectations.

+1000 Well said, and sadly so true.

[Anonymous]

Here you go: The spin off thread:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/361036.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:16:27 - your thoughts will be a great discussion piece on the existing S/O thread. See you there.

Are you wanting to close out this thread? Why?

[Anonymous]

No, I think PP's point is that this thread should be reserved for comments specific to the title: recent suicides at Langley high school. Discussion of general problems of schools like Langley or others in the area, pressure cooker environment and its effect on our kids should be put on other threads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, I think PP's point is that this thread should be reserved for comments specific to the title: recent suicides at Langley high school. Discussion of general problems of schools like Langley or others in the area, pressure cooker environment and its effect on our kids should be put on other threads.

No other thread on DCUM has such narrow constraints. Your request seems unusually restrictive. I'm betting you have some interest in preserving LHS's previously perceived status.
In reality LHS has its fair share of problems. Your monetary riches don't shield you from the obvious issues that have been overlooked.
What exactly is your relationship with Langley?

[Anonymous]

And there's the request from the administrator:

jsteele wrote:Please take the AP discussion to another thread. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A memorial service will be held for TS tomorrow, Saturday, February 8 at 2pm in the Smith Center Auditorium with a reception immediately following in Community Room C. www.mcleanbible.org Park on the lower level of the parking garage nearest door #2B

Jim Hutchens, a long-time family friend and former pastor, will be leading the service. In lieu of flowers the family wishes for donations to be made to The Josh Anderson Foundation which provides teenagers with mental health education www.joshafoundation.org

And the candlelight vigil is underway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to LHS and took 2 APs my jr. year and 3 APs my sr. year. I graduated in '91, though, so I don't really see how this is going to be relevant or helpful to anyone here. I do still feel terribly for the Saxon community and my heart goes out to the victims' families, friends, and community. God bless.

PS I was there during the Dr. Manning days. He was awesome! RIP, Dr. Manning!

1986 Langley grad here; I was also there during the Manning years!