Exeter >> In the wake of the death of senior student Jamie Lynn Kotas, Exeter High School will be providing counseling services to students starting Monday, April 20.
Principal Bill Cain sent a letter out to parents Sunday explaining that not only Exeter counselors, but counselors from other districts as well, will be on hand to help students cope with the loss of a classmate.
“We have all been deeply affected by this – especially our children, Jamie’s friends and classmates. I want to assure you that we have made preparations to provide whatever support our students need tomorrow,” the letter said.
Cain went on to explain that the school’s library has been set up as a ‘safe room’ for students who would like to take some time out of the day to reflect or talk about the loss.
Kotas, 18, was pronounced dead at the scene of a crash in Oley Township Friday night, April 17. She was in the back seat of a car that travelled through a stop sign at the intersection of Route 662 and Oley Turnpike Road.
The car was driven by 19-year-old Giovanni Desanto. The car was struck by a Volkswagen Jetta driven by Casey Hennessey, 23, of Linfield. Police said the drivers and other passengers escaped the accident with only minor injuries.
Cain said that he understands if students were not up to coming into school today and encouraged those who did come in to find support from school staff if needed.
“Together we will honor Jamie’s memory and somehow find the courage to continue,” Cain wrote.
