October News
October is an Important Month in the School Year
The State of New Jersey has enacted legislation requiring all school districts to designate the first week of October (10/2-10/6) as the “Week of Respect” and the third week of October (10/16-10/20) as “School Violence Awareness Week.” School districts shall observe these weeks by organizing activities that promote respect and prevent school violence.
This is a great time for students and staff to discuss ways to prevent school violence and participate in activities that endorse respect, responsibility, and tolerance.
Reggie Dabbs Assembly was a Huge Success in our District!
Reggie Dabbs presented to the Clearview District (grades 7-12) on Wednesday, October 4th during the Week of Respect. He instantly found a way to unite our students in song as well as listen to his powerful story. A memorable moment included his statement, "You can never change your past, but you can change your future." Our students and staff are still talking about his presentation!
Special day at the View!
Reggie is a talented musician!
Students with Reggie - all smiles!
October 10th is World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day is a day to talk about mental health and show everyone that mental health matters. It’s also a day to let people know that it’s okay to ask for help, no matter what you’re going through.
As the theme of World Mental Health Day highlights, ‘mental health is a universal human right’. That’s why at Mental Health Foundation, we’re dedicated to addressing the inequalities in mental health and working towards good mental health for all, not just for some
Lots of Info in this Newsletter as Part of Information During Red Ribbon Week
Each year, on October 23-31, individuals, schools, and communities across the United States show their commitment to a healthy, drug-free lifestyle by wearing or displaying the red ribbon. Red Ribbon Week raises awareness of drug use and the problems related to drugs faced by individuals, families, and communities. This annual health observance encourages parents, educators, business owners, and other community organizations to promote drug-free lifestyles.
Red Ribbon Week started more than three decades ago, following the death of Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, a special agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration who was killed by drug traffickers. Shortly after Special Agent Camarena’s death, citizens from his hometown of Calexico, California, began wearing red ribbons to remember him and commemorate his sacrifice.
Red Ribbon Week offers a great opportunity for parents, teachers, educators, and community organizations to raise awareness of the problem of drug misuse.
Members of the Mental Health Awareness Club/SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) will place red ribbons throughout the school as a reminder of Red Ribbon Week.
Did you Know?
Parents! There is a great resource called Natural High. There are short videos you can watch with your child/children. Each is a recognizable face who is living their life drug-free.
Please check out this valuable resource: https://www.naturalhigh.org/for-parents/
Statistics about Smoking
Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the United States. An estimated 28.3 million U.S. adults smoke cigarettes, and about 3.08 million U.S. middle and high school students use at least one tobacco product, including e-cigarettes. Every day, about 1,600 U.S. youth younger than 18 years smoke their first cigarette. Each year, nearly half a million Americans die prematurely of smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke. Another 16 million live with a serious illness caused by smoking. Each year, the United States spends more than $225 billion on medical care to treat smoking-related disease in adults.
It is So Important to Dispose of Your Unused Prescription Medications
Most people who misuse prescription drugs get them from family, friends, and acquaintances.
You can make a difference by keeping track of the medicine you have, by rethinking where and how you keep your medications in your home, and by safely disposing of any unused medications.
*This link below is a list of local drop boxes in Gloucester County
https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/meddrop/pages/locations.aspx#Gloucester
Keeping Kids Drug-Free
There are many things you can do to help your children stay away from drugs and make good choices:
Talk with your children about drugs before they are teens.
Explain why taking drugs can hurt their health, their friends and family, and their future. Tell them you don't want them to take drugs that they aren’t supposed to. You can also share the websites found in the Drug Use Prevention Phone Numbers and Websites section. Repeat these messages during their teen years.Text your teen.
Send positive text messages to your teen. Or send a text after you have a conversation that reminds them of your talk. You don't have to worry about popular texting language. Just write the way you talk. Tell them you are proud of them.Be a part of their lives.
Spend time together. Even when times are hard, kids can make it when they know that the adults in their life care about them. Give your child your full attention. Have dinner together, Turn off your TV, cell phone, or computer, and really listen.Know where your children are and what they're doing.
Keeping track of your children helps you protect them. It gives them fewer chances to get into drugs/alcohol.Set clear rules and enforce them fairly.
Kids need rules they can count on. That is how they learn for themselves what is safe and what can get them in trouble. Explain why you are setting a rule so they understand why it matters.Be a good example for your children.
You might not think so, but kids look up to their parents. Show them how you get along with people and deal with stress. This can teach them how to do it.Make your home safe.
Know the people you have in the house. Try not to have people over who misuse drugs and alcohol. Keep track of medicines and cleaning products you have in the house.
Possible Signs of Drug Use
Figuring out if your child is using substances can be challenging. Many signs of drug use in teens are typical young adult behavior. Many signs of drug use are also symptoms of mental health issues, including depression or anxiety.
If you have reason to suspect use, don’t be afraid to err on the side of caution. Prepare to take action and have a conversation during which you can ask direct questions like “Have you been drinking, vaping or using drugs?” No parent wants to hear “yes,” but being prepared for how you would respond can be the starting point for a more positive outcome.
Please look through the physical, behavioral, hygiene, and appearance signs that could be happening.
How to Talk to Your Kids about Fentanyl
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent.
It is a prescription drug that is also made and used illegally. Like morphine, it is a medicine that is typically used to treat patients with severe pain, especially after surgery.3 It is also sometimes used to treat patients with chronic pain who are physically tolerant to other opioids.4 Tolerance occurs when you need a higher and/or more frequent amount of a drug to get the desired effects.
Save the Date! - Parent Online Workshop on November 2nd
We are excited to bring in Mr. Paul Lavella from New Jersey Recovery and Wellness for an online Parent Workshop entitled, Addictive and Compulsive Behaviors in Today's Teens. Please see the attachment below and click on the link on November 2nd at 7pm to join.
Link: meet.google.com/mwx-qgze-dne
Mrs. Jessica Datz
Clearview Regional School District
Student Assistance Counselor
(856) 223-2757
Clearview District Community Resources
https://docs.google.com/document/d/17rCMmRiS7NebGzUy_H-FrfX8IzL6BKceC8dKDHCJRL4/edit?usp=sharing