PRESS RELEASE RE: Benjamin Wasik

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the tragic, accidental death of Benjamin Wasik,
a 4th grade student at Regan Intermediate School. The entire Starpoint community expresses our
sincere condolences to the Wasik family and friends. Benjamin will be greatly missed and will
always be a part of the Starpoint family.

I was made aware of the tragic news yesterday afternoon (Wednesday, March 15, 2017) through
the Niagara County Sheriff's Office and our team immediately began planning to provide
appropriate emotional support to students and staff on Thursday morning. The District Crisis
Team met early Thursday morning and finalized a plan to provide support to the students and
staff. Extra care was given to students in the childs classroom. Throughout the day,
psychologists, counselors, social workers have been meeting with students and staff to assist
them in working through the grieving process.

It is our utmost priority to support the wellbeing of our students in the difficult days and weeks
ahead. This afternoon a letter will be sent home to all parents with students in the Regan
Intermediate School. The parent letter indicates that each student may react differently to a
tragic occurrence such as this. We are encouraging parents to listen carefully to their children,
answer questions openly and honestly, and let them know it may not be possible to answer all of
their questions. We are also reassuring parents that appropriate social-emotional support systems
will be in place at Starpoint to assist students in the days and weeks ahead.

Dr. Sean M. Croft

Superintendent of Schools
Starpoint Central School District