DHS Counseling Newsletter
October 2015
BULLYING PREVENTION & AWARENESS
Over 3.2 million school children are bullied each year.
Aside from making school a very difficult place to be, bullying can cause headaches, post traumatic stress, drops in grades, depression, isolation, and even suicide.*
October is Bullying Prevention and Awareness Month and we encourage you to have open conversations with your children about bullying and ask them to stand up for themselves and/or friends who may be having issues. DHS takes bullying very seriously and seeks to ensure that no child is mistreated at school nor afraid to attend.
For more information on bullying, including statistics, videos, and advice and how you can help and encourage your child to help, check out these resources:
http://www.pacer.org/bullying/
If someone you or your child knows is being bullied, please let a school counselor or administrator know. Just one person can make a difference in the life of a student.
Don't Stand By. Stand UP.
*Source: pacer.org
LGTBQ
October is National LGTBQ History Month and DHS seeks to promote awareness among students, faculty, and staff. In addition to events sponsored by our own GSA (Gay Straight Alliance), we want to share some resources for you or your teen who may be struggling with LGTBQ issues or just want to know more.
Growing Up LGBT in America - Statistics (Human Rights Campaign)
GLAAD - Advocacy and support promoting LGTBQ acceptance
History of LGTB Pride Month (Library of Congress)
Check out these featured books and more available at the Decatur High School Library:
Absolutely, Positively Not by David LaRochelle
Am I Blue? Coming Out From the Silence Edited by Marion Dane Bauer
Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin
Blue Is the Warmest Color by Julie Maroh; translation by Ivanka Hahnenberger
Fat Angie by e.E. Charlton-Trujillo
Freakboy by Kristin Elizabeth Clark
Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg
Stonewall: Breaking Out in the Fight for Gay Rights by Ann Bausum
This Assignment Is So Gay: LGTBQ Poets on the Art of Teaching Edited by Megan Volpert
Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
A fantastic list of additional resources can be found here:
Rainbow Book List (American Library Association)
LGTBQ Book Lists (My GSA CA)
Homecoming is Friday October 16th
Download a copy of the Homecoming Survival Guide for tips on how to manage Homecoming Week. Help give yourself some peace of mind and your child the tools needed to be safe and have fun too.
Go Bulldogs!
YOUR DHS COUNSELING STAFF
Jo Harpring
Ext. 2114
Ken Jackson
Ext. 2117
Kimberly Jones
Ext. 2144
NEED AN APPOINTMENT?
CONTACT US
Counseling and Registrar Main Phone: 404-370-4187 ext. 2165
Davida Atwood, Registrar - ext. 2116, datwood@csdecatur.net
Bill Roberts, Graduation Coach - ext. 2170, broberts@csdecatur.net
Deborah Shadrix, Administrative Assistant - ext. 2165, dshadrix@csdecatur.net