UPDATED: Concord Schools 'Horrified and Deeply Saddened' by Newtown Tragedy

UPDATED at 12:45 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 16

Superintendent of Schools Diana Rigby provided the following informatin about how the district is making assistance available to parents in the wake of Friday's tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

She wrote in an email:

Principals have reached out to parents with safety information, resources, and comfort. We will have mental health team members available on Monday morning for teachers and parents. Voluntary faculty meetings will be held in the elementary schools before school on Monday to assist teachers with age appropriate responses to student inquiries. 

Original Post

Supreintendent of Schools Diana Rigby on Friday said the district was "horrified and deeply saddened" to learn of a mass shooting that claimed the lives of more than 20 at an elementary school in Newtown Conn., on Friday, Dec. 14.

Rigby also said the schools will have mental health teams available to assist teachers and parents as they attempt to speak to students about this terrible tragedy.

According to reports, a gunman believed to be the son of a teacher rampaged through Sandy Hook Elementary School, killing 20 children and a handful of adults. , according to a Patch report.

In light of the incident, Rigby released the following statement late Friday afternoon:

We are horrified and deeply saddened by these events in Conn. We have safety procedures and emergency plans for each school.  We also have mental health teams that can assist teachers and parents with discussions with students. 

President Barack Obama also addressed the incident earlier today, saying parents across the United States will hug their children a little tighter tonight.

In a press conference this afternoon, Obama said “our hearts are broken” for those that lost loved ones at Sandy Hook Elementary School during a tragedy whose cause and suspected perpetrators remain unclear.

“Our hearts are broken for the parents of the survivor as well, as blessed as they are to have their children home tonight, they know their children’s innocence has been torn away from them too early,” Obama said.