Sean Luke’s classmates get counselling

An official at the school told Newsday yesterday that after a counselling session with the psychiatrist, the teachers were given medication for the “post-traumatic period” after Sean Luke’s killing two Sundays ago.

The counselling of the principal and teachers came after a two-hour session on Monday evening with some 60 parents of the Parent-Teacher Association which parents held with counsellors’ Joseph Ragoonanan and the Student Support Services officer from Ministry of Education Nadira Hakim.

Several mothers of pupils, an official said, wept during the session as they vented their feelings about Sean Luke’s killing. A school official said parents told the counsellors the children seemed fearful even in their own homes and would often cling to them at nights.

One mother, Newsday was told, said her child had awoken in the middle of the night crying.

Counsellors have already visited Sean Luke’s Second Year class to speak to his classmates about coping with the death.

Principal Maharaj said the Student Support Services was providing much-needed assistance to the staff, having visited a few occasions with teachers and children. “It was a fruitful exercise,” Maharaj said.

“And we are happy that teachers, children and now parents are being given an opportunity to talk about the death and how we feel about it.” A school official told Newsday the psychiatrist recommended that the school staff focus on positive memories of Sean Luke.

Maharaj yesterday described Luke as a “very bright and friendly child” who was an outstanding pupil for his age.

“We will miss him,” Maharaj said. Plans are underway for the school to host a walk-a-thon on Sunday in Sean Luke’s memory.