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Grief counselors will be available at Silver Creek High, virtually after death of student

Starting at 8 a.m. Monday, members of the district crisis response team will be at Silver Creek to meet with students or staff, according to an email sent to families by Silver Creek principal Erick Finnestead.
Julie Baxter
Julie Baxter
2020_07_29_LL_skokan_ family
Kelsey Skokan, left, with his brothers and parents at Black Cat Farm. Kelsey’s sister, Morgan Fleming, is not pictured. (Courtesy photo)

Silver Creek High School will make grief counselors available to students starting Monday in the wake of the death of a student.

Kelsey Skokan, 17, died as the result of a July 24 head-on collision on Nelson Road west of North 51st Street when a 2005 Kenworth cement mixer collided with the MG convertible coupe being driven by Skokan, according to Colorado State Patrol Trooper Josh Lewis. 

The driver and passenger in the Kenworth were injured in the crash, according to Lewis. Kelsey Skokan’s brother, Ian Fleming, who was a passenger in the MG, also was injured but is home now, family spokesperson Doug Brown said last week.

After the crash, the truck collided with the Skokan home, causing serious damage, the extent of which is unknown, Brown said. 

Silver Creek principal Erick Finnestead in an email sent to parents last week, said, “Many of you may have already heard this news, but It is with the heaviest heart that I share that a member of our student community, Kelsey Skokan, passed away in a terrible car accident last week. In moments like this, it is hard to find the words to express our collective grief upon learning of such an unexpected passing. Our district’s crisis response team will be available to speak with any students or staff members who need support during this difficult time”

Starting at 8 a.m. Monday, members of the crisis response team will be at Silver Creek to meet with students or staff, according to the email. Those wanting to schedule a phone call or virtual appointment with the crisis support team also can call the school’s main office at 720-494-3721 and leave a brief message with their name and a team member will be assigned to contact them, Finnestead said in the email.

“The passing of a classmate is always difficult and this tragedy will affect each of us differently.  Some may recover quickly yet others may (take) much longer to process their feelings about this news,” Finnestead wrote.

The email also included tips for families to support students as they work through their grief. They were: 

  • Encourage your child to talk about their feelings.

  • Be wary of excessive and often inaccurate information posted on social media.

  • Validate your child’s feelings.

  • Actively listen to your child, however, refrain from trying to rationalize the death.

  • Help children clear up misconceptions.

  • Arrange support for yourself and your family as necessary.

  • Affirm your child’s ability to cope and heal.

“If your child needs additional support please contact the school so they can visit with a counselor,” Finnestead said, adding that if students are experiencing unusual distress during evening or weekend hours, other community resources are available. Among those he included in his email were: 

The community has been rallying around the Skokan family in the days since the crash, providing help on its Black Cat Farm in Longmont, at its farmstand in Boulder, by providing meals and by donating to a GoFundMe campaign. 

Brown last week said people who want to support the Skokans can do so by shopping the farm stand, which is open to from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at 4975 Jay Road in Boulder, or shopping the Black Cat stall at the Boulder Farmers Market, which is from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m Saturdays on 13th Street. 

They also can dine at the farm. Supporters have stepped up to keep the Black Cat farm dinners going. Reservations are taken a week at a time and sell out quickly, Brown said last week.