The superintendent of Regional School Unit 12 reached out to district families December 15, regarding the previous day’s mass shooting at a Connecticut school.

Calling the incident “a senseless tragedy,” Supt. Alan Hawkins said it “reminds us all how quickly this can happen.” His statement went out to families by phone and email, via the district’s automated notification system.

The district serves Wiscasset, Alna, Westport Island, Whitefield, Windsor, Chelsea, Palermo and Somerville.

“The fears and concerns that are already building in our students must be our first priority,” Hawkins said. “When school opens next week, the administration and staff will be there to respond to the needs of our students and also to the needs of the adults. Our strong, caring staff will join together to continue that trust in having a safe school for all.”

“Each of our buildings have strong safety plans and those will continue to be implemented to attempt to ensure the safety of each and every student and adult alike,” the message continued. “May we all stop and treasure our children, our staff and our commitment to the education and well-being of each child in our schools. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the community of Newtown and to each and every family, official and staff member that have been affected during this terrible time,” Hawkins concluded.

In a separate message, also sent the morning of December 15, Hawkins assured the district’s staff that he will be available to speak with them, as well as students and parents, as needed.

The superintendent predicted that when students return next week, “many will come with a level of fear knowing that this happened in a school and a place of safety. You will also return with some of those feelings,” Hawkins told the staff. “Although we must all deal with our concerns and heartaches for the students at Sandy Hook we also must be the strong leaders in our school who can talk to students and parents alike.”

“We need to assist them in knowing that we do all possible to provide safety…,” Hawkins said. “The (schools’) emergency preparedness systems take on another degree of importance. The administrators in each building will be there to ensure that all aspects of the system are in operation.”

Hawkins added that the tragedy’s occurrence so close to the holidays will add to the difficulty everyone faces in dealing with what happened. He reminded the staff that, in addition to their roles as educators, they “are also there to provide strong social, emotional support and a sense of trust for all concerned.”

“Now that added leadership role of supporting our students and parents through this nationally sad time is very real. This is also the time when I, as superintendent, want to recognize your strengths and abilities…Our caring and trust with you are so important,” Hawkins wrote.

“My thoughts and prayers to all,” Hawkins said.