In the event of a student’s passing, there is a natural inclination to honor their memory. It is crucial to handle this with sensitivity, with empathy and with best practices to avoid  any potential negative effects, especially on other students’ mental health. The policy guides student memorials and tributes in a responsible manner consistent with guidance from mental health professionals.

Granite School District Policy

We understand the urge to commemorate a student’s life, but glorifying or sensationalizing their death has the potential to be harmful, potentially leading to further tragedy. Leading research indicates that the risk of suicide increases whenever there is a student death, regardless of the manner of that death. This is why it is essential that our response to loss, and to the request for memorials, be handled in thoughtful ways that consider the potential impact to at-risk students. 

Schools can and should support students and families through the grieving process in appropriate ways. We encourage families, friends, and communities to honor their loved ones in their own way. Granite strive to create a consistent and supportive and response to any type of student loss. 

Memorial Events

• Families can discuss appropriate memorial ideas with our Crisis Intervention Team, administration and school mental health staff.
• While schools don’t organize memorials, staff and students are welcome to attend and support appropriate activities and events that are organized by friends and loved ones. 
• Schools will ensure that any student or community-led memorial gatherings held on our campuses are safe.

Physical Memorials

• It is not appropriate or consistent with best practice to create permanent memorials like plaques or planting trees on school property. Temporary memorials can be appropriate and help students and family through the grieving process.
• The student’s school photo will remain in their class yearbook. However, memorials and dedication pages in the yearbook  may unintentionally glorify and sensationalize the student’s passing and potentially cause harm to other at-risk students or retraumatize and cause emotional distress in the future. 
• Appropriate temporary gestures like cards or donations can help students and families through the grieving process. 

Here is a link to the full policy:
https://www.graniteschools.org/legal/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/04/V.C.17.-Student-Memorials-and-Tributes.pdf

Here are links to the best practices and resources when it comes to student deaths and memorials:

Special Considerations When Memorializing an Incident
Commemoration and Memorialization
What Should A School Do About Impromptu memorials?