Basking Ridge Middle School Student Dies

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Gage Dobson, an eighth grader at William Annin Middle School, died Tuesday afternoon, school officials announced.

Dobson has a Ridge High School sophomore-aged brother named Zachary who has attended the school system for many years.

The school did not release the reason behind Dobson's death.

Both the middle and high school have recently felt the loss of students. Kyra O’Dwyer, a 10th-grade student at Ridge High School died on Dec. 9, 2016 and Ridge High School Junior Martha Moye died March 29, 2016.

"We have been affected by loss this school year more than any community should," William Annin Principal Karen A. Hudock stated in a letter to students and parents.

• See Related: Sorrow at Ridge High School After Sophomore, An 'Angel' Who Changed Lives, Dies
• See Related: Death of Ridge HS Junior, Martha Moye, Announced Tuesday

"Given this connection to high school-aged students and the recent loss of two other high school students, we felt it very important that Ridge parents be reminded of the information that follows in this letter," Ridge High School Principal Francis T. Howlett stated.

School officials reminded parents to listen to their students and suggest answering questions openly and honestly if they occur, and letting them know that even adults do not have all the answers concerning questions about death.

"Many of us find this to be a confusing time and an awkward topic to discuss, but open communication is always the best path through difficult issues," school officials stated.

The school offered some resources that may be beneficial in assisting parents to understand the grieving process from a child’s point of view and to open the lines of communication:

• National Association of School Psychologists – Stages of grief and grief reactions http://www.nasponline.org/reso...

• Children’s Grief Education Association – Words that can help/hurt http://childgrief.org/document...

Counselors from the school's Counseling Department/Child Study Team are available for students to help them process their grief.

"We have been affected by loss this school year more than any district should, it is important that we pull
together to support one another," Howlett said.

(Image via Shutterstock)

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