Counselors' Quarterly
October 2019, Quarter 1
Welcome!
Meet Your School Counselor & School Social Worker
Students are assigned to a counselor by their LAST NAME.
School Counselors:
Emily James (A-G)
Twitter: @TeachMsJames
Amy Northway (H-O)
Twitter: @northwayamy
Aaron Weddle (P-Z)
Twitter: @counselorweddle
School Social Worker:
Twitter: @joshualundahl
In Case You Missed It
Active Links:
- New Student/Family Helpful Information
- Prairie Ridge Student & Parent Handbook
- "Supporting Your Adolescent" Family & Community Night on 9/17/2019
Resource: Action for Happiness
Action for Happiness encourages people to build a happier, healthier life. We reference their calendars at school for self-care, mindfulness, service ideas, and so on.
Upcoming Events at PRMS
- October 15th & 17th
- February 27, 2020
Family & Community Engagement Events:
- November 14, 2019: Vaping, Alcohol & Drugs with Ankeny PD
- December 11th, 2019: Building Resilient Learners & Peer Relationships
- January 2020: Social Media and Cyberbullying, Date TBD
- February 27, 2019: Future Ready Students (College & Career Readiness)
September Included National Suicide Prevention Month
You are not alone
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Text "TALK" to 741741
The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.
Have an honest conversation. If you are worried about someone, assume you are the only one who will reach out.
- Talk to them in private, and tell them you care
- Listen to their story
- Avoid debating the value of life, minimizing their problems or giving advice
- It's okay to ask directly about suicide
- Encourage them to seek help or to contact their doctor or therapist
Other Ways to get help:
- Trans Lifeline: 1-877-565-8860
- The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386
- Call 911 for emergencies
October Includes National Mental Health Week & World Mental Health Day
How are we supporting students this October?
On October 10th & 11th, PRMS School Counselors and Social Worker will connect with 7th grade students during their Health class to speak about suicide prevention and awareness. This topic comes as part of the Emotional Health unit 7th graders are currently working on. Additionally, all students have accesses to the resources found below and the option to meet with their counselor as needed. Wondering how else the counseling staff supports students? Contact your student's school counselor to learn more.
Resources for Ankeny Students & Families
TIPS Reporting System
If you or your child would like to report a concern:
- Please click here to access the TIPS Report Incident System, or
- Call the hotline: 963-7233 (963-SAFE).
With TIPS, students and parents can report:
- Bullying and cyberbullying
- Threats of suicide
- Other threats of violence, weapons, drug/alcohol abuse, and more
All reports are confidential, unless you specify otherwise. TIPS is NOT an emergency reporting system. Emergencies should be reported to 911.
LifeWorks
Student Assistance Program (SAP) by EFR
The first three sessions are free. Speak with a school counselor or contact EFR directly to learn more.
Contact Prairie Ridge Middle School
Email: firstname.lastname@ankenyschools.org
Website: https://www.ankenyschools.org/prairieridge
Location: 1010 Northwest Prairie Ridge Drive, Ankeny, IA, USA
Phone: (515) 965-9705
Twitter: @AnkenyPRMS