Dear Westlake Community,
Our community has suffered a tragic and heartbreaking loss. A sophomore at Westlake Academy unfortunately took his life on Tuesday. There are no words that can fully express the pain of losing such a bright and beloved young person.
His parents are dear friends of ours. His father serves as Westlake Academy Booster Club’s medical advisor and devotes countless hours to caring for our student-athletes. His mom has been one of our athletic ambassadors for several years, giving her time, heart, and support to ensure our players, coaches, and facilities are always prepared. Their contributions to our school and Town have been profound and meaningful.
I had the privilege of coaching Xander in track and watching him play football. He was a talented young man with a kind spirit and a bright future. I cannot begin to imagine the grief of losing a child. Our hearts are with the Chung family, and our thoughts and prayers extend to every student, teacher, and family at Westlake Academy who this loss has touched.
On behalf of the Westlake Academy Board of Trustees, I have asked Head of School Dr. Kelly Ritchie to review and enhance our current practices surrounding teen suicide prevention. We are committed to doing all we can to protect our students' and community members' mental health and well-being. This includes reinforcing and updating our practices in the following key areas around Prevention and Intervention.
Our pledge to every parent, student, staff member, and Westlake resident is this: we will continue to educate ourselves, train our faculty and staff, and strengthen our support systems so that no child ever feels alone. But it takes all of us. These conversations are complex, but they are essential.
Please keep the Chung family in your thoughts and prayers. We are a small, close-knit community, and this loss hurts us all. We will stand together in grief, in support, and in action.
Finally, I want to speak directly to every member of our Westlake family: Your mental health and well-being matter. If you are struggling or see someone who is, please reach out. You are not alone. Counselors, chaplains, faculty, and trusted adults are here for you. We care deeply about each of you.
The Chungs will have a family funeral service out of state for Xander, and a candlelight vigil will be planned for our community at a future date.
With heartfelt sympathy,
Mayor Kim Greaves