Mentor Schools, Lake Catholic React To Chardon High Shootings

The entire region -- if not the nation -- student shot five of his classmates, killing three, on Monday.

Several local school districts -- including Mentor Schools and Lake Catholic High School -- have had their own reactions to the tragedy.

held a prayer service in honor of Chardon Tuesday morning.

"We hope to have a tribute later in the week that is more planned out and can include everyone," the school posted on its Facebook page Tuesday. "In the meantime, and most importantly, please continue to pray for everyone at Chardon High School."

Meanwhile, Mentor Schools Superintendent Jacqueline Hoynes posted an open letter to parents and guardians on the district's web site.

It read:

Dear parents and guardians,

I know you are joining me in sending thoughts and prayers to the Chardon Schools community. We can only imagine the pain and suffering the families of the victims are experiencing, as well as all of the Chardon families, friends and community members.

I also know you are probably thinking of the safety plans Mentor Schools has in place. I want to assure you we have safety plans in place for all of our schools that are unique to different crisis situations. We have regular drills for our students and staff members for these different types of crises. In addition, our students are reminded to report any suspicious behaviors to staff members. 

If you have any questions or concerns about the safety of your child, I urge you to contact your building principal to get answers. Meanwhile, if you notice anxiety in your child related to today’s crisis, please get in touch with your principal or your child’s guidance counselor so we can follow-up with your child. We have also asked staff members to pay close attention to their students’ affect or feelings so we can address those concerns with your child and notify you. Thanks for working with us to keep Mentor Schools a safe place for our students and staff members.

Sincerely, Jacqueline Hoynes