Students who experience sudden loss have a source of support, thanks to compassionate projects launched by a pair of Montclair Public Schools counselors and funded by the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence.
Lauren Gutierrez, counselor at Charles H. Bullock Elementary School, and Tressie Hall-Arrindell, counselor at Bradford Elementary School, each created grift kits to provide support and bereavement resources for families.
Gutierrez first came across the idea a few years ago on TikTok. She applied for and was awarded an MFEE grant to create the kits at CHB. Hall-Arrindell, who was inspired by this project, was awarded a similar grant this year.
The kits include two picture books – “The Memory Box” by Joanna Rowland and “The Invisible String” by Patrice Karst.
“Sometimes life and trauma can leave you speechless, and books can help parents provide language needed to process the loss,” Hall-Arrindell said.
The kits also contain a journal, bubbles and slime, and an activity so children can create their own memory box to place photos, drawings or special tokens, as well as resources for parents to help them seek providers who specialize in grief counseling.
This is how Hall-Arrindell explained the project in a note to her colleagues at Bradford: “Grief happens to everyone. Children need tools to process their grief. Grief shapes us as people. If it is not processed properly in childhood, it can negatively impact the trajectory of a child's overall development,” she wrote.
The kits hold space for students, Hall-Arrindell told MFEE. “Sometimes we don’t know what to say or how to help, but we want to be respectful and provide support for students and families,” she said. Two students at Bradford have received the kits, and Hall-Arrindell said the families expressed gratitude for them.
Gutierrez said: “The impact of these kits is in their ability to provide immediate comfort, emotional expression, and stress relief for grieving students. By offering tools such as art supplies, stress-relief items, and reflective workbooks, the kits help students process their emotions in a healthy way while continuing to engage in their learning.”
Each year, MFEE funds approximately $60,000 in grants to educators for classroom innovation, social-emotional learning and professional development.
“We are so pleased to see impactful ideas being shared by colleagues across our district,” said Masiel Rodriquez-Vars, executive director of MFEE. “Our goal is to foster connections and fund concepts that support students.”
To support more work like this, consider a donation to MFEE’s Annual Appeal, which runs through February 28. These impactful programs are only possible with your contributions.
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