Alright, so we lost a kid today.

I've been teaching for 9 years, but I'm a first year kindergarten teacher in a small, very rural school. <br><br>Yesterday, I got a message from a parent saying that one of our kindergarten boys (5 years old) was sick, super sick, and was admitted to the icu yesterday. <br><br>The school is so small, we have just one kindergarten class. We all have some returned positives, but just assumed the 5 year old had gotten covid just like everyone else. <br><br>I got the call tonight. I'm not good with secrecy, so it's not like I can pretend everything is fine, you know? <br><br>So a 5 year old in my class had a stroke (not from covid) and passed away 8 hours ago.<br><br>I can't sleep. I just can't.<br><br>What do I say to these kids? I have never experienced a loss this close to me as an adult. I have never had a kid die. <br><br>This early in the year, the kids don't know all the teachers in the school. I cannot tell them to lie. This is ridiculous. I am 24. I have no idea what to say. <br><br>I'm so in shock.