Many SSAE students recently came out on top in the Colorado State Wrestling State Championship event. These students compete for various other high schools around the Pikes Peak Region. Congratulations to them all; you all ROCK!!!

• Javani Majoor (11th)- Boys Colorado Wrestling State Champion!
• Janida Garcia (12th)- Girls Colorado Wrestling State Champion!
• Katie Valdez (10th)- Girls Colorado Wrestling State Champion!
• Allison Evans (11th)- 3rd place Colorado Wrestling State Championship!

(*two additional winners not listed due to media denial requests).

Once we return from Spring Break, high school counselors will begin meeting with all students for their annual advising / ICAP meetings. Emails have been sent out with sign-up information. Parents do not need to attend these meetings but are welcome to if you'd like. Below is the information and sign-up links for each grade level.

Current CE Students- advising is already underway for current CE students and will wrap up on April 7th. If you are a CE Student, you do NOT need to sign up for a grade-level meeting; we will take care of all your needs during our CE meeting.

Current 8th Graders (Rising 9th graders/freshman)- High School Information and Registration Night will be held on April 6th from 5:30 - 7:00 pm. This will be held in the south campus commons area. Counselors will share information about high school, graduation requirements, programs, etc., and will work with students on selecting classes for the next school year.

Current 9th Graders (Rising 10th graders/sophomores)- Students will meet with Mrs. Allen from April 4th thru April 24th. When signing up for meetings, please indicate if you need to meet via Zoom. Otherwise, it will be assumed that you will be here in person. Sign up for a meeting HERE.

Current 10th Graders (Rising 11th graders/juniors)- Students will meet with Mrs. Swann from April 20th thru May 12th. When signing up for meetings, please indicate if you need to meet via Zoom. Otherwise, it will be assumed that you will be here in person. ALL TUESDAY MEETINGS WILL BE VIA ZOOM. Sign up for a meeting HERE.

Current 11th Graders (Rising 12th graders/seniors)- Students will meet with Mrs. Swann from April 4th thru April 19th. When signing up for meetings, please indicate if you need to meet via Zoom. Otherwise, it will be assumed that you will be here in person. ALL TUESDAY MEETINGS WILL BE VIA ZOOM. Sign up for a meeting HERE.

This is the last call for any graduate who may be interested in singing the National Anthem for senior events or who is interested in speaking at the Graduation ceremony. We need one singer and two speakers. If you are interested in doing either of these things, please let Mrs. Swann know by April 4th.

Studies show that depression among teenagers and young adults has gotten more common over the past decade. Social media use has also increased during the same time. It’s hard to say for sure that social media causes depression. Still, there are several ways that using social media could harm kids.

Some experts think connecting with peers online is less emotionally fulfilling than connecting in person. Research shows that teenagers who spend more time on social media also feel more isolated. It could be that kids who already feel isolated use social media more. But it could be that using social media actually makes kids feel isolated.

Another theory is that social media is bad for teenagers’ self-esteem. Seeing lots of perfect pictures online might make kids (especially girls) view themselves negatively. Feeling bad about themselves can lead to depression.

Social media can also cut into the time that kids spend on activities that make them feel good, like exercise and hobbies. Additionally, it can distract from important tasks like homework. Having to juggle those responsibilities can increase kids’ stress. Studies also suggest that using social media at night interferes with restful sleep for many teenagers.

It’s important for parents to check in with kids about their social media use and help them develop healthy habits. You can encourage kids to turn off notifications, spend plenty of time on offline activities that make them feel good, and put their phones away before bedtime. You can also set a good example by modeling balance in your own use of social media.

Finally, be sure to keep an eye out for signs of depression and get professional help if you’re worried. It’s especially important to check on kids who are under a lot of stress.

Article shared from an email from the Child Mind Institute (February 2023). Check out the full-length article HERE.