Letter from the Principal - November 2019

By Mona Passman, Principal
November 13, 2019

Dear Parents and Guardians:

We began this month with a celebration of All Saints Day, a day when we remember all of those who have gone before us. We spend this entire month of November celebrating the communion of saints and rejoicing in the knowledge that we will again see those we love.

This month of remembrance took on a new meaning within our CDH Community on November 9 when senior Paige Bullis passed away. Students, faculty, staff are all grieving, but we know that our sorrow cannot compare with that of her parents, Rocklyn and Paula Karel Bullis '86, her sister Lauren '24, and her brother Blake. Our hearts ache for them and our prayers are with them.

We know through our faith that in the midst of our heartbreak, God walks alongside us. We could feel the Holy Presence of God at Monday’s prayer service for Paige. The Bullis family generously mourned alongside our students, faculty, and staff as we prayed and cried together. We take solace that God will continue to be among us at the funeral on Friday, and whenever we remember Paige. 

We can learn a great deal about grief from the young people within our midst. They understand the primacy of their feelings and emotions in ways that we forget as we age. For some students, this may be the first death they are navigating. Others may find themselves mourning other losses. I encourage you to talk with them about their grief and share your own grief. We have counselors on staff who are available to help them. Please feel free to reach out to them if you have any concerns. 

I urge everyone to be kind to one another. We are grieving the loss of a dear friend, a student, and a member of the Raider community. I also encourage families to reconnect with things you enjoy doing together, even when your teenagers were younger children - simple things like sledding, favorite family movies, or a trip to the ice cream shop can help students navigate their grief and feel supported. It can help the adults, too.

Please continue to keep the Bullis family in your prayers. May God grant them comfort, strength, and peace.

Sincerely,

Mona Passman