September 18th kicks off the start of our HSA Middle School Advisory program. Advisory is offered for 30 minutes every Friday and gives students the opportunity to build relationships with teachers and peers. Each week will focus on a different social emotional topic based on one of the five SEL domains: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social-Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Decision Making. Advisory will include lessons designed around specific topics, activities, class discussions, school-to-home extensions, and parent resources. Encourage your child to share the weekly advisory content to help maximize student engagement and success!

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. As a community we can work together to promote awareness and help prevent suicide. Starting a conversation about mental health and suicide prevention is the first step in supporing others during a crisis. Read below for information about the risk factors and warning signs of suicide. We are called to action to offer support, hope, and understanding. If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline.

Risk Factors:

• Mental illness/psychiatric diagnosis

• Family history of suicide and/or exposure to suicide Family history of mental illness

• Physical/sexual abuse

• Losses

• Aggressive behavior/impulsivity

• Lack of social support/social isolation

• Poor coping skills

• Access to ways of harming oneself, like guns, knives, etc.

• Difficulties in dealing with sexual orientation

• Physical illness

• Family disruptions (divorce or problems with the law)

• Traumatic event

Warning Signs:

• Preoccupation with death (e.g., recurring themes of death or self-destruction in artwork or written assignments

• Intense sadness and/or hopelessness

• Not caring about activities that used to matter

• Social withdrawal from family, friends, sports, social activities

• Substance abuse

• Sleep disturbance (either not sleeping or staying awake all night)

• Giving away possessions

• Risky behavior

• Lack of energy

• Inability to think clearly/concentration problems

• Declining school performance/increased absences from school

• Increased irritability

• Changes in appetite

September 18th

Submit Work by 2 pm

October 8th

Parent Teacher Conference

October 16th

Staff PD (No School)