October 3, 2022
Dear West Hempstead School Community,
I am extremely saddened to inform you of the tragic passing of West Hempstead Secondary School seventh-grade student Tomas Molina. I know our entire school community joins me in extending our deepest condolences to Tomas' family and friends.
Tomas was an affable, active, and hard-working student. He joined the RamFam while at George Washington. He progressed quickly on the academic front by grasping the English language and passing the NYSSESLAT with excellence. His teachers shared how he showed up daily during remote learning and actively participated in the learning process. The Secondary Staff was impressed with his good nature and dedication to his studies. Tomas was heading towards the honor roll. Tomas had a huge smile and was always willing to lend a hand to a classmate.
Understanding this will be a tremendously difficult week within our intermediate and secondary schools, we have activated our crisis response plan. Our team of counselors, school psychologists, and social workers will be available for any student or staff member who needs assistance. They will be available at both George Washington and the Secondary School.
In addition, listed below are several links to online resources that address child and teen grief. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us should you need additional assistance. We are here for your children and want them to know they are not alone in their grief.
As we mourn this loss as a community, please support one another and continue caring for yourself and your family. Please also keep the Molina family in your thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely,
Daniel Rehman
Superintendent of Schools
Online Resources:
Addressing Grief, from the National Association of School Psychologists
The Child's Loss: Death Grief and Mourning, by Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D., and Jana Rubenstein, M.Ed., LPC
How to Help a Grieving Teen, from the Dougy Center