This story has been updated to include an official statement from the Hastings and Prince Edward School Board.
A local mother and father are looking for answers, after they were asked to no longer attend lunches at their late son’s school.
Thomas Martin was a Queen Elizabeth student in Belleville.
He died on February 29th, after losing his battle with brain cancer.
Since his passing, his parents joined students at his school for their weekly pizza days, spending time remembering their son.
Recently, Thomas’ mother Charlene Mcintee says the principal told them they should no longer attend the lunches.
She adds to make matters worse, when the Pedal For Hope (fundraiser for childhood cancer) recently stopped by the school, they were told to not bring up Thomas or show pictures of him.
She says she cannot understand the reasoning for either decision.
Parent liaison for Pedal for Hope, Evelyn Wilson tells Quinte News it is an unfortunate situation and she doesn’t agree with what happened. She says they were told by the school that they could mention Thomas and then they were told they couldn’t. Wilson says during the celebration they went ahead and acknowledged Mcintee and her husband Robert Martin plus gave them T-shirts.
Wilson whose own daughter Katie died of cancer at the age of 15 said more needs to be done in schools to help children deal with grief. She said their first response is to provide grief counseling in the first few days after someone passes way.
“The problem is most of those children who were really close to Thomas weren’t at school in the days right after, ” she said. “They need continued support.”
Spokesperson for the Hastings Prince Edward School Board Kerry Donnell.
Donnell says having relationships with families is important to the school and the board. She says they are open to taking steps to bringing back a positive relationship for everyone who is involved.
She says child and youth councillors are always available to talk to students about Thomas when there is a need expressed.
