BERNE — Two Hilltown schools are struggling to deal with the death of a nine-year-old student.

David Matthew Tryon died Sunday in an accident at his family’s home in Berne (see obituary). Tryon had just started his first year at Berne Elementary School after transferring from the Helderberg Christian School.

Diane Hannay, Helderberg Christian School administrator, said that, after Tryon’s death, she called each parent of a student between third and sixth grades so they would be able to tell their children about the death themselves.
On Monday, she said, the school held a crisis intervention led by herself, a local pastor, and a second-grade teacher who holds a degree in counseling. The team told the students exactly what happened to Tryon, "so there would be no gossip and no rumors," Hannay said.

After some prayer, there was time for questions. Students asked things like if they could have prevented the accident and if God was punishing their friend, Hannay said.
"We had a lot of tears, but we worked it through," Hannay said.

Hannay said the students were reminded that last spring, Tryon publicly committed his life to Christ in the school’s chapel.
"For our faith, we have the reassurance at that point that he had eternal security by going to Heaven," Hannay said.

Helderberg Christian is a small private school of about 50 students. The students are very close to each other, Hannay said. School is canceled this Friday to allow students and their families to attend Tryon’s funeral.

Hannay said she feels the loss as much as her students. She visited the family in the hospital right after the accident, she said.
"I miss him terribly," Hannay said. Like all of her students, she said, "I feel like he is one of my own."

Kimberly LaBelle, assistant superintendent for elementary and special education at BKW, told The Enterprise that the school, in response to Tryon’s death, mobilized its counselors.
"We have offered any type of counseling [students] require from the school psychologist, the school social worker, and myself," LaBelle said. Several parents have called requesting counseling services for their children, she said.

Though Tryon was new to BKW, he had many friends there, LaBelle said. She said the students are dealing with his death well.
"Our kids have really done great," LaBelle said. "They’re talking about David in a real positive way and we’ve encouraged them to do that."