Knox County Public Schools faculty, staff, and students continue to mourn the loss of one of our students, Joshua Henson, who passed away last weekend.
This tragic loss touches the hearts of many in our schools and in our community. We have been in touch with the family and respect their privacy as they grieve. We ask that our school community do the same.
Visitation will be held on Friday evening, November 4, at Knox Funeral Home between the hours of 6 pm and 9 pm. Services will be conducted on Sunday at the Old Samaria Church in Floyd County.
Counselors were at Knox Central High School on Monday for any students that needed support following the announcement of his passing. A school-wide moment of silence was held. Counselors continue to be available for students at the school.
The family has asked that expressions of sympathy go to the youth programs at Dewitt Baptist Church, P.O. Box 19, Dewitt, KY 40930 in his memory.
Our counselors have some suggestions for families that may be helpful as you discuss his passing, allowing students to express their own concerns and feelings.
- Your child needs to feel that they are allowed to express their thoughts and feelings regarding the incident without the fear. Listen carefully and affirm that you understand what they are feeling and thinking.
- Ensure your child that you will be there for them whenever they experience grief or other experiences that cause emotions.
- Don’t be hesitant to ask your child how they are, even though you might expect the answer “fine”. The fact that you ask will be important to your child, even though they may not show this.
- Regardless of your child’s response to you, reassurance is comforting to them that you are there.
If students need to share information with their school, about their own feelings or sudden differences that they see in their friends, they can talk to their principal, or counselor, send a tip using our STOP tipline (https://safeschools.ky.gov/), or dial 988 directly from their phone.