Guidance counselor Pam Thomas shows a letter written by a Switzerland of Ohio Local School District student to Ohio County students impacted by this summer’s flooding. (Photo by Joselyn King)

WHEELING — Ohio County Schools students living in flood-affected communities will receive a gift of caring from the Switzerland of Ohio Local School District when they return to their classrooms next week.

Representatives from the school district in Monroe County delivered 300 “calm-down kits” to Elm Grove Elementary School on Thursday. The kits are also to be shared with students at Middle Creek Elementary School and Bridge Street Middle School. Those schools serve the areas hardest-hit by June 14 flash flooding that claimed nine lives.

In the kits are items such as fidgets, candy, lip balm and hand sanitizer — which provides “tactile grounding” for students, according to school counselors. There are also stickers and notes of positive affirmation for students in the kits, and in some cases full letters of encouragement.

Phrases such as “things will get better” and “thinking of you” could be seen on notes in the bags.

Heather Hines, counselor at Elm Grove Elementary, said Rebekah West — a counselor with Southeast Healthcare Services who works with students in the Switzerland of Ohio district — contacted her after the flooding. West told Hines she and her students wanted to put together “calming kits” for the Ohio County students.

“I think these students are going to be coming back with some (post-traumatic stress disorder), and even some secondary traumatic stress,” Hines explained. “These are children who may not have experienced trauma firsthand. But they are living in the community, hearing stories, seeing pictures and have friends who have experienced it. I think we’re going to have a lot of kids who need extra support when they arrive here next week.”

Teachers returning before students on Monday were going to start off with training on emotional support services, and there will be other resources in the school, she continued.

Karin Butyn, public relations director of Ohio County Schools, added coming back to school can always be challenging for a child, but this year brings added issues.

“Reach out. Talk to Mrs. Hines; reach out to the counselors,” she said. “They can bring in additional supports that the parents are comfortable with.”

West works with students during the summer. After the flooding, she thought having them write words of encouragement to other youngsters in Ohio County would be a good group activity.

Items were donated, and some were personalized by her students.

“The kids going back to school, they’re going to struggle with a lot of trauma,” West said. “Especially if the trauma just occurred in June. A few months later is when it starts to (cause a reaction), and now they are at school. It is so good to have things to look forward to.”

Counselors understand how trauma can impact children.

“When they come back to school, having a note from a student in another district … I felt it would make a big difference for the kids,” West said.