When tragedy strikes a school community, a team of experts trained in handling trauma are on call, ready to help.
So far this year the Ministry of Education's specialist team has been called out to schools 57 times, roughly what they would expect.
The crises include the death of a student while caving in Whangārei, and two children murdered in Ruakākā.
One school principal vividly remembers making the call for help 15 years ago after a canyoning disaster which killed six students and a teacher.
Amy Williams reports.
