NOBLESVILLE, Ind. -- Students at Noblesville West Middle School are done with classes for the summer. One week ago, a fellow student opened fire wounding teacher Jason Seaman and 13-year-old Ella Whistler.
Seaman, who stopped the shooting, returned to the school on Friday to see his students on their final day of classes.
Glad to be with period 2 again! pic.twitter.com/eAZzoZSAvp
— Peyton Townsend (@PeytonTownsend2) June 1, 2018
Ella Whistler is still in the hospital. Her family said Thursday that Ella is improving and her condition has been "upgraded to stable."
Teachers and staff lined the parking lot on Friday to wave and cheer as buses left the school grounds.
The final week at Noblesville West was focused on counseling and team building activities.
"Having time to decompress and relax, and help our friends, because all we did this week was to hang out and do group learning and activities, and just kind of like getting to help each other, and have contact and not be academic, it's just a nice way to end," said Kylie Cook, seventh grade.
The school district will continue offer counseling through the summer
Community Health Network Program Manager Vanessa Enos says it's important for parents to start the conversation.
She says a good way to do that is by asking your child what questions he or she has.
"I think when it comes to these really critical heavy-weighted issues, I would lean a little more toward a little more information than you have talked about in the past. I think it's really just thinking about their safety: safety both of your kid and their neighbors and the kids in their school," said Enos.
For younger children, Enos recommends discussing gun safety and mental health, such as what to do if you're angry.
Enos says one of the most important things you can do as a parent is listen.
"Kids will ask us the questions they want to know. But we need to create the time and the space for them to do that. Because there can be a lot of fear with kids to even approach and say, 'Hey mom, what happened? Or 'Grandma, is it going to be okay?'" said Enos.
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