Principal Addresses Passing of Snellville Middle Student

Snellville Middle has posted on its website a letter from Principal Katise Menchan addressing the eighth grade boy who suffered a seizure and died Thursday during an after-school dance. 

Read the letter below: 

Dear Parents, 

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I write this letter to you. At last night’s school dance, we had a student who experienced a medical emergency. 911 was called and our teachers, administrators and other adults at the dance responded immediately to aid this student. Emergency personnel transported the student to an area hospital where we learned he passed away. A number of students were at the dance when this situation occurred and others heard about this situation last night. I felt it important to notify our parents of this loss so that we can assist our students and school community through this difficult time.  

When we received word of this student’s passing, we shared this sad news with our teachers and staff members so that they would be better prepared to help our students today. Our counselors and crisis support team met with classmates of the student and were available at our school all day today to talk to students. Dealing with death is difficult for all people, and it can be very challenging for teens, especially when it is unexpected as this situation was. If you find that your child needs help or needs to talk to someone about this situation, please don’t hesitate to contact the school, as we have school counselors and other professionals who are well trained in helping children cope with difficult issues such as this.  

This has been a very difficult day for all of us. A loss like this touches not just our students but others throughout the school and community. I know your thoughts and prayers will be with this student’s family, our students, our faculty, and our school as a whole as we cope with this loss.

Sincerely, 
Katise Menchan
Principal