Pupils, 5, get counselling over Sabina
KIDS’ TRAUMA OVER TEACHER’ S KILLING
SCHOOLKIDS as young as five are being offered psychological help after the killing of their teacher, Sabina Nessa.
Sabina, 28, had just taken on a new year one class at the start of term.
Her pupils now have to come to terms with her suspected murder.
Lisa Williams, head at Rushey Green School, Catford, South London, said everyone involved with the school was devastated.
She said: “[Sabina] was a brilliant teacher – kind, caring and absolutely dedicated to her pupils.”
It is understood Ms Williams has spoken to classes with educational psychologists also offering help.
An unnamed teacher at the school of 600 kids and around 70 staff, told the South London Press: “Everyone is supporting each other.
“But it is hard for teachers to reassure children nervous about being at school for the first time – while they are themselves putting on a brave face while consumed with grief.
“The year two pupils, who she had last year in year one, will be the most upset – and their parents.”
Sabina was killed in a park near her home in Kidbrooke as she went for a date on Friday, September 17.
Police are seeking a balding man captured on CCTV near the scene.
Yesterday forensic officers were seen searching drains.
Scared
Among a sea of tributes left near where Sabrina died was a child’s T-shirt with “thank you for being my teacher” written on it in felt-tip pen.
Sabina’s colleague said that “nothing can prepare you” for the horror of what had taken place.
She said: “It is awful enough when someone dies – this is so much worse.
“It is impossible to comprehend – that she suffered in the most violent way. We were sitting beside her on Friday.”
Sabina’s death has sparked new anger over women’s safety, six months after Sarah Everard was kidnapped and murdered by policeman Wayne Couzens.
It is thought Sabina was attacked as she walked to The Depot pub at about 8.30pm last Friday – a journey that should have taken her no more than five minutes.
The next day her body was found by a dog walker under a pile of leaves near the Onespace community centre, which reopened yesterday offering a book of condolence after a week behind a police cordon.
Manager Kathryn Gosden said she was planning to give the book to Sabrina’s family “to show that Sabina was part of this community... and will remember her”.
She said local women were still “very, very scared” to
go out alone adding: “Even today, people are out in twos and threes.”
On Friday hundreds of mourners, including parents and pupils at Rushey Green, gathered for a candlelight vigil for Sabina.
Her sister, Jebina Yasmin Islam, broke down in tears as she told the crowd her family had been “stuck in a bad dream” since losing her “caring, beautiful sister”.
“We are lost for words,” she said. “No family should have to go
through what we’ve gone through.”