Tacoma community members,
On behalf of the Birney Elementary School staff, we want you to know that your kindness and sympathy at this time are appreciated more than any words can ever express. At times like this, the company of friends is incredibly comforting.
Birney Elementary School and our community have suffered a deep loss with the death of Jennifer Paulson. On the day of her death and in the sad days following, the incredible support that we have received from the community has given us the collective strength to bear the tragedy. We owe much gratitude to many individuals and agencies in Tacoma and beyond.
The Tacoma police and fire departments that arrived at the scene on Friday did their jobs with great compassion. Their guidance meant more than ever. Officers, firefighters and EMTs were of immense assistance to our families and children as they began to arrive at school, in particular, Sgt. Frank Krause from the Tacoma Police Department and Chief Ron Stephens from the Tacoma Fire Department. Your heartfelt expressions of support and caring have eased our pain. Thank you for being there for us at this extremely difficult time.
I also want to thank the many Tacoma Public Schools’ administrators who came to Birney immediately following this tragedy. Superintendant Art Jarvis has been a strong presence. Director of Secondary Education Miguel Villahermosa, Director of Elementary Education Karyn Clarke and Coordinator of Guidance and Counseling Chris Backman guided us through the initial day of shock, and have remained available every hour since.
United Lutheran Church, our community partner, has given us a place for memorial and solace. We have received cards, flowers, words of love and support from fellow educators and community agencies throughout Tacoma and the state of Washington. Durham School Services volunteered two buses so that Birney staff could attend Jennifer’s memorial service together.
On Friday, when we were unable to reenter the school or our parked cars, Tacoma Safe Streets sent coffee and rolls; Lincoln Plaza Starbucks donated food and coffee and an anonymous Birney neighbor sent bags of hamburgers. Birney PTA, Mann Elementary School, Baker Middle School, Helping Hearts for Kids and Red Lobster continued to send snacks, lunches and breakfast throughout the week to the Birney staff. Friends like you have shown the Birney family abundant kindness and thoughtfulness.
We often talk of Birney Elementary School as a “Community School.” We gratefully appreciate having you with us during our time of sorrow. Thank you for your sympathy and good thoughts. It's during a time like this that we learn how much our friends really mean to us. We so appreciate your kindness and support as we resume our work of teaching children, as Jennifer would want us to do.
Christine Hinds
Principal
Birney Elementary School