Dear Parents,
As you may or may not be aware, our district has recently experienced a loss which has deeply affected us. It is with a heavy heart that we share with you the passing of Mr. Craig Kitto, former Johnson County School employee and Buffalo community member. Mr. Kitto was snowboarding in the mountains near his home in Bozeman Montana, yesterday, February 14th, when he was tragically caught in an avalanche.
Mr. Kitto was an integral part of Johnson County Schools for 11 years. He served as Associate Principal at Buffalo High School from 2007-2013 and then as Principal at Meadowlark Elementary from 2013-2018.
We wanted to let parents know today, so you could determine how to best inform your children of this news. Our school counselors are available in the school setting to assist students as they express their feelings related to Mr. Kitto’s death and are also available to parents to assist you with recognizing possible reactions you may observe in your child. Please know we are here to help. Please watch your child as he/she goes through the grieving process and watches others grieve as well. Signs your child may need extra comforting or support might include: quietness; irritability; isolation; clinginess; or, changes in appetite or sleeping habits—anything out of the “normal” for your child. Encourage your child to talk about his/her feelings. If you feel your child is in need of special assistance or is having a great deal of difficulty coping with this death, please do not hesitate to call us for support and guidance. While it is important to deal with grief, loss, anger and fear reactions, we believe it is essential to resume as normal a routine as possible regarding school activities.
Thank you for your wonderful support of our school system as we work together to cope with the loss of Mr. Kitto. This is what makes Johnson County Schools such a remarkable place! Please feel free to contact your child’s building principal or counselor if you have any concerns or questions regarding your child or the steps being taken by the school to address this loss.
Sincerely,
The District Administration