DTSE Trailblazer Report
November Edition
Principal's Corner
We hope you all had a chance to enjoy your Fall Break and are looking forward to a happy Halloween! Activity trackers for each student are updated and released each Friday. Please be sure to check in with your student and encourage them to keep up with their graduation goals!
November is quickly approaching and there are a few important dates we wanted to make sure our families are aware of. Please see below for details.
Upcoming Events:
Picture Retakes: November 1st in the Community Room. Only students who missed the first picture day or would like to have new pictures taken will be participating.
Mandatory Senior Meeting: November 3rd at 6PM in the DCHS auditorium
E-Learning Day: November 8th. Students will work from home
Thanksgiving Break - No School: November 23 - 25
FAFSA for Class of 23 and Junior Early Grads
Now is the time to complete the FAFSA, The Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Filling out the online form allows you to apply for both federal and state financial aid to help pay for 4 year colleges, 2 year colleges/community colleges, trade school & technical schools and some proprietary schools. The form is available online here and must be submitted no later than April 15, 2023.
Need help with this process? Contact our local partner INvestEd by visiting their website at https://www.investedindiana.org/ or calling 317-715-9007.
School Info
8:10AM: Door 2 unlocks for Breakfast
8:40AM: 1st Period Begins
3:45PM: Dismissal
Block Scheduling:
DTSE will be running a block schedule this year that mirrors DCHS. Students will have a 25 minute CCR period to start each day, then they will have 4 classes, that will alternate each day.
CTE Courses at DCHS:
Most of our students are attending 1 class period at DCHS every other day in order to help them meet graduation requirements for work based learning skills. It is vital students are following protocols and guidelines for moving between buildings. Failure to appear for the class at DCHS or return to DTSE after may result in removal from the course.
Testing:
DTSE is working to establish a 2nd semester ASVAB opportunity for students.
Dress Code Notifications:
Blankets are not permitted at school. Please make sure your child has warm clothes to wear as the weather continues to cool down.
Clothing advertising or displaying images related to alcohol, drugs, or tobacco should not be worn to school. Students who come to school wearing these items will be required to cover them up or change clothes.
If you need assistance with clothing, please feel free to reach out to DTSE staff, and we will work to find and provide support for our families!
November 2nd: Stress Awareness Day
November 2 is National Stress Awareness Day.
Did you know....
1. Chronic stress, that is, failure to deal with it for a long time and remaining in a prolonged and constant feeling of stress can lead to life-threatening problems? From hypertension, heart diseases, decreased immunity, loss of sociability, and decreased mental vitality, stress is not to be taken lightly!
2. There is such a thing as "good stress"...scientists like to refer to it as eustress.
3. Stress is the "Silent Killer" - it is usually is the root cause of heart diseases
Causes of Stress
It is our body’s automated response to pressure, commonly known as the “fight or flight” response. Causes, according to WebMD are, “Chronic illness or injury. Emotional problems (depression, anxiety, anger, grief, guilt, low self-esteem). Taking care of an elderly or sick family member. Traumatic event, such as a natural disaster, theft, rape, or violence against you or a loved one.”
5 Emotional Signs of Stress
According to WebMD, “Some of the psychological and emotional signs that you’re stressed out include:
- Depression or anxiety.
- Anger, irritability, or restlessness.
- Feeling overwhelmed, unmotivated, or unfocused.
- Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much.
- Racing thoughts or constant worry.
- Problems with your memory or concentration.
- Making "bad decisions.”
How Can I Help Myself to Prevent/Reduce Stress?
1. Don't know what is truly causing your stress?
- Start a Stress Diary for a few weeks to identify patterns. (template found on this website)
2. Get practical Advice about your issues
- There are lots of places where you can get practical advice on different issues. An advice service may be a good place to start. They may be able to support you to solve an issue. See the Useful Contacts (bottom of page) for resources to help. For example, you may want advice on:
- housing
- benefits
- money
- employment
- Money can cause many different issues such as poverty, debt and relationship problems.
- Making a budget sheet could help. This will help you work out what you can afford to pay.
- You can find more information about:
- If you plan your time this can make you feel more in control of things. Here are some ideas that could help you do this:
- write lists of what you need to do
- prioritise the most important tasks
- share tasks with others if you can
- don't put things off
- set yourself steps and goals for complicated tasks
Remember to reward yourself for any achievements!
5. Talk to someone
- Telling someone how you are feeling may help with stress. It can help to ‘offload’ your worries. You may feel comfortable talking to someone you know. Or you might prefer to talk to someone who doesn’t know you.
6. Make lifestyle changes
- Get enough sleep - lack of sleep causes poor concentration and low mood, and long term lack of sleep can lead to mental health problems such as anxiety
- Limit your caffeine intake - this helps you sleep better and therefore reduce your stress
- Exercise
- Eat a balanced diet
- Do something for yourself every day
7. Practice mindfulness
8. Use relaxation techniques
Vape Policy
Decatur Township School Police Department, (DTSPD), in collaboration with the Drug Free Coalition, is excited to offer a new diversion program for students found to be in possession of tobacco products, e-cigarettes, and or vaping devices. DTSPD has also partnered with our local courts in an effort to minimize the use of these products and devices on our campuses. Our students, if found with the aforementioned items, would be in violation of Indiana Code 35-46-1-10.5, Minor in Possession of a Tobacco Product or an Electronic Cigarette or 7.1-5-12-8 Smoking in a Prohibited Area. Each of these would be met with an Indiana citation, also known as a “Uniform Traffic Ticket,” (UTT). When submitted to the courts, the cost of the ticket for this violation is $170.50. This is an actual ticket and will affect your license or the ability to obtain one if left unpaid.
Our objective however, is not to create financial hardship, but to have an opportunity to educate students and families on the dangers of vaping and tobacco products. Twice per month, DTSPD officers will present a 1-hour class for students who have opted to accept the terms of the diversion program. The cost of the class for a student attending alone is $75.00. If a student attends the class with a parent or guardian, the class is discounted at a cost of $25.00. Upon the completion of the class, the UTT, or citation, will not be referred to the courts, and there will be no record of the violation. A student may only participate in the program once per school year, and only twice throughout their entire school career.
BLUE and GOLD Day Rotation for Block Schedule
22/23 DTSE Supports and Clubs
Tutoring Opportunity
When: Monday's from 4-5PM
Location: DTSE Room 213
Gamers Guild
When: After school on Friday's 3:50-5PM
Where: DTSE Room 206
Coordinator: Mr. Vetter
Art Club
When: every Tuesday after school. Ends at 5pm
Where: Ms. Cochran's room (room 113 next to the cafeteria)
Music Club
Interested students should talk to Mrs. Farris about the opportunity
When: Thursdays from 4-5PM
Where: Room 211
Opportunities for Decatur Families!
P-EBT Card Information
MSD of Decatur Township and the Child Nutrition Department do not have access to P-EBT information or funds.
All calls and questions need to be directed to The Family and Social Services Administration.
Social/Emotional Resources and Links
24 Hour Suicide Hotline
- Dial 988 or text IN to 741741
LGBTQ+ National Hotline
- 888-843-4564
- email: help@LGBThotline.org
Mental Health Support & Referrals
- Mental Health America
- 800-969-6642
- http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/
Physical Abuse
- National Domestic Violence Hotline
- 800-799-7233
- http://www.thehotline.org/
- Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline
- 800-422-4453
- http://www.childhelp.org/ \
Substance Abuse Support
- National Drug & Alcohol Treatment Hotline
- 800-662-4357
- http://www.addictioncareoptions.com/
Eating Disorders
- National Eating Disorders Assoc. Helpline
- 800-931-2237
- http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
Teen Health Questions
- 888-711-TEEN (confidential)
Boys Town National Hotline: struggling youth & families
800-448-300
GLEANERS FOOD BANK
HOURS OF OPERATION:
OFFICE:
Monday – Friday, 8 AM – 4:30 PM
FOOD PANTRY:
Gleaners Community Cupboard
- In-person shopping:
- Tuesdays: 10 AM to 3 PM
- Wednesdays: 10 AM to 3 PM
- Drive-thru distribution:
- Thursdays: 2 PM to 7 PM
- Saturdays: 9 AM to 12 PM
GOODWIN CENTER
Food Pantry – is available to help families in the Mars Hill / Decatur Township area.Pantry is held every other Monday.
Hours for pantry:
Afternoon: 12pm – 2pm
Evenings: 4pm-6pm
DCHS Pantry is under Gleaners and has a drive through 2 times a month, through DCHS. Watch PARENTSQUARE for more information.
Find Additional Support for Specific Needs
Search and connect to support. Financial assistance, food pantries, medical care, and other free or reduced-cost help starts here: https://www.findhelp.org