SCA Student Supports
May 2021
Reflecting on a Year of Uncertainity and Growth
Mental Health Awareness Month~ Sarah Dobeck
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. In addition, the first week of May is Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week and the Thursday of that week is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day. For the 3rd year in a row, Southern Columbia participated in a “Green Out Day” on Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day to show support and bring awareness to this important cause. Our staff and students flooded our school in a sea of green that day. They were rewarded with surprises throughout the day for showing their support and helping to break down stigma. These prizes are also coping skills for positive mental health which included fidgets, stress balls, emotion journals and of course, candy. Students who really dressed up or were nominated by Teachers as being extra kind or helpful this year were also given gift certificates for local restaurants.
In addition to the Green Out Day, staff and students received a daily e-mail for the week on important topics on Mental Health Awareness. These topics included stigma, coping skills, how to ask for help and resources on mental health. Students and staff were also sent a short educational video on mental health that was shown in some classrooms. If you or your student would like any further education on mental health awareness, education or resources, please contact the Prevention Specialist, Ms. Sarah Dobeck at sdobeck@scasd.us.
Save a Life Walk is a Success! ~ Andrea Borys
On May 15th, the S.P.A.R.K and S.A.V.E student clubs, with guidance from advisor Andrea Borys, held their first Save a Life Walk to raise awareness and funds to support mental health initiatives. The walk included age- appropriate speakers on each half hour to promote the SemiColon Project and the concept of pausing, not stopping, take a break, but don't give up. A balloon launch also occurred at the end of each hourly session. Ms. Borys and some of hte students participated in a QPR- evidence based suicide prevention program prior to event being held.
The event raised over $5000 in contributions and not only helped pay for the event but also allowed the group to make a $500 donation to the National Foundation for Suicide Prevention, give $500 scholorship to a student pursuing a career in mental health as well as earmarked for future projects.
SCA C.A.R.E.S ~ Tia Brown
Despite the changes in teaching and learning this year, SCA C.A.R.E.S. was still able to run a successful Kindness Tree campaign raising over $100 dollars for the America Diabetes Association! Students continue to be recognized by the adults in the building for small acts of kindness and are rewarded with leaves on their classroom Kindness Tree. When their tree is full, the students attach a large leaf to our school Kindness Tree. Each of those large leaves represent 10 acts of kindness and earns a dollar toward our chosen charity of the year! A special announcement is made to each class who fills their tree. Last school year we were able to donate $150 to the Ronald McDonald House of Danville.
SCA C.A.R.E.S. was also able to provide a scholarship to a student entering the field of mental health this year in the amount of $500. Congratulations to Sienna Sosnoski who was chosen as this year's recipient!
Plans for next year are being developed for the SCA Caretakers to take an active roll in our district. Stay tuned for future developments in this ongoing project.
Finally, look for the exciting additions to our "Wall of Caring" located on the ramp near the library in the secondary building. This mural was started by the class of 2024 during their middle school orientation night. Ceramic tiles that depict a mandala design with the words "Kindness Matters" camouflaged in the artwork will serve as the centerpiece of the Wall of Caring. Ceramic tiles with uplifting messages and drawings, that have been created by our staff, will surround the tile mandala. With fundraising throughout the year, SCA C.A.R.E.S. was able to purchase the ceramic tiles for the mural and we hope to continue it for years to come. It is our hope that students who pass by this mural daily will be inspired by the messages of hope from their current and former teachers.
Elementary Guidance ~ Eric Deeter
Student Spotlight ~ Jake Davis
Student Spotlight~ Jason Yeick
Support Teacher, Cassandra Gum. Jason acted as a peer mentor for several students and assisted with academics and behavioral interventions under the guidance of Ms. Gum. Jason was able to provide incentive breaks, positive reinforcement and he role modeled positive behavior for all those students he worked with. Based on his experiences, Jason has decided to continue his education at Bloomsburg University and will be enrolling in the Elementary and Special Education Program at BU. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.
Volunteers Needed
Comprehensive Needs Assessment Presentation on 6/21
Over the last year and a half, Dr. Anne Katona Linn, an Educational and Systems Change Consultant, has gathered data from SCA through meetings with teachers, students, administration, administration of assessments, and a review of other data sources to complete a comprehensive needs assessment and subsequently develop a strategic action plan based on the data collected. This information will be presented during the June 21st board meeting and we encourage all stakeholders to listen to this valuable report.