ANN ARBOR, MI - The Ann Arbor Public Schools community is again responding to the loss of a student as the district notified families Tuesday, Nov. 29, of the death of sophomore John Kuhnke.

John Kuhnke

Kuhnke, 16, who attended Community High School, died Monday evening after a brief hospitalization following an accidental overdose over the weekend.

Kuhnke's mother, Carol Kuhnke, confirmed to The Ann Arbor News that her son died at 5:03 p.m. Monday following an overdose that occurred in the early morning hours of Friday, Nov. 25. He was taken to Mott Children's Hospital early Friday, she said.

John is survived by his parents, Carol Kuhnke, a Washtenaw County Trial Court judge, and Elizabeth Janovic; his sister, Julia Kuhnke; grandparents; aunts; uncles, and cousins.

John Kuhnke previously attended Ann Arbor's Northside Elementary School and Clague Middle School, and he played football at Skyline High School his freshman year.

"The loss of a child is always traumatic and even those who did not know John personally may feel the effects of the loss," said Ann Arbor Superintendent Jeanice Swift in a letter to Ann Arbor staff, parents and community on Tuesday. "We, as a community, have suffered the loss of too many of our children recently and it is understandable that coping with another such tragedy may feel overwhelming. This is an important time for all of us to watch out for each other."

The Ann Arbor Public Schools Crisis and Grief Teams are active at Community High School and Clague Middle School, and Swift also sent out a list of strategies for talking to children about a traumatic event.

Community High School Dean Marci Tuzinsky told CHS students Monday that Kuhnke had been hospitalized and was in critical condition. She wanted to update the students after "mixed messages" about his condition made the rounds on social media starting Saturday, Tuzinsky said in an email to CHS students and families on Monday night.

"John's parents contacted me shortly after 6 p.m. (Monday) evening to share this final news. Support will be in place by counselors and district staff in the Counseling Office (Tuesday) for students and staff needing to talk," Tuzinsky wrote.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of John," she continued. "We will all need to reach out and support each other as we process this tragic news. Students should encourage friends to talk with adults if they seem affected. Remember that this hard news affects everyone differently. Sometimes it's hard even for students who did not know John. Let's all support each other."

The Ann Arbor schools community is coping with the death of several high school students this school year. Huron High School sophomore Ben Pierce died Nov. 8 after accidentally falling from the Thayer Street parking garage. Community High School junior Qi-Xuan "Justin" Tang died Oct. 25 after being hit by a car while crossing Fuller Road near Huron High School. Pioneer High School senior Jordan Klee was shot and killed Oct. 4, and Huron High School student Laura Burns died Sept. 27.