The last five months have been tragic for the Fox School District community with the deaths of six students and the passing of Fox Senior High School's band director.

On Monday, students and staff at Fox High School learned that Kristina Jordan, a sophomore and member of the school's band program, died over Thankgiving break. Kristina had sickle cell anemia, which worsened in July. She had been hospitalized for the blood disorder recently.

"We lost another student at Fox High School over the weekend," Superintendent Dianne Critchlow stated in an email to Patch on Sunday night. "(It's) very sad - too many this year."

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This is the third student death at the high school this year, according to Judy Hoelzer, a school spokesperson. Ryan Smith, a senior, died in a car accident Nov. 10, and Mitchell Maserang, who would have been a sophomore this year, died July 1 in a train accident in Wentzville.

Additionally, students and staff at the high school learned their beloved band director, Matt Rice, died July 5. Rice, 37, passed away from natural causes.

Last month, Jacob Siebert, a freshman at Seckman Senior High School, died unexpectedly.

And in September, Alyssa Cochran, who attended Antonia Middle School and her sister Autumn, who went to Antonia Elementary School, died in what Jefferson County Sheriff's Department officials called a murder-suicide.

With each death, district grief counselors were sent into the schools to provide extra support for students and parents were notified.

In a letter to parents about the death of Kristina Jordan, Fox High School Principal Kevin Rossiter wrote, "Students react in different ways to tragedy. As the adult caretakers, parents and teachers should expect, accept, and try to understand the variety of emotions and behaviors. The most important thing we can do is be supportive, be good listeners and encourage discussion."

Rossiter also urged parents to contact the school's counseling staff if their children appear to be having an unusually difficult time.

See related on Patch: 

• Community Comes Together to Celebrate Life of Seckman Teen
• Fox High School Band Director Passes Away
• Visitation Held in Arnold Following Murder-Suicide