For many of you it is your first time to be in high school IN PERSON! I hope you have had time to adjust to high school life. We are now through the first 9 weeks of the school year so you should all know what to expect from your teachers and what they expect from you. Trust that we will do all we can to ensure that your experience at Overton is one that you will cherish and reflect on positively for the rest of your life. My office is in room 143 and my door is always open! Come by if you ever need anything or just to pop in and say hi. I will visit classrooms this year to let you know about some awesome opportunities coming your way so be on the lookout. Go Wolverines!

Here are a few reminders:

• Use your student email to communicate with all teachers and school staff
• Mr. Ellis is available in the cafeteria during all lunches daily to help with technical issues with your devices
• For email, Microsoft Teams, and Canvas issues call 416-5300 option 3
• The Overton website is a wealth of information! Bookmark it! This is where you can find info on events, clubs and school organizations, teacher emails, and so much more
• When you are absent, check your classroom Teams or request your makeup work from your teachers
• All excuse notes should be brought in to the attendance office or emailed to baileyjordanss@scsk12.org or catheyc2@scsk12.org

Powerschool is the best way for you to know what your grades are at any given time. You can even see your grades for each assignment in all classes this quarter. If you need your Powerschool contact info, please reach out and I will get it for you.

Social Emotional Learning Resources

As our District and community continue to cope with COVID-19, we recognize that many students and families are experiencing anxiety and a range of other emotions. Self-care and emotional self-regulation are especially important during these uncertain times, so the District is providing a variety of resources to support students and families.

Included below are several videos and podcasts explaining the importance and impact of SEL and helpful strategies and activities families can use at home. A variety of SEL resources are also available on the CASEL website. CASEL is the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning. Plus, SCS has launched two new support lines so students and parents can contact school social workers and counselors around the clock for resources and assistance with social emotional concerns.

NEW Social Emotional Support Lines Available for Students & Families!

TOPICS OF SUPPORT:

• How to get mental health support​
• Where to find community resources
• How to help your family
• Expressing & coping with anxiety
• Anger management

• Signs of depression
• Grief & loss
• Substance abuse
• Managing a child with ADHD
• Mindfulness & Meditation

NOTE: The SCS support lines are intended primarily for general questions and non-emergency assistance. If you are experiencing a crisis, please contact one of the organizations listed below that provide crisis support.

Local & Statewide Mental Health Support Organizations:

• Youth Villages is the District's largest community partner for providing specialized crisis services staff for children and youth up to age 18. For assistance, call 901-251-5000, 901-252-7600 or 866-791-9226. Learn more by visiting the Youth Villages West Tennessee web page.
• The Statewide Crisis Line is available if you are experiencing a mental health or psychiatric emergency. Call 855-CRISIS-1 (855-274-7471).
• The TN REDLINE is available for referrals related to substance use disorder treatment and resources. Call 800-889-9789.
• The TDMHSAS Office of Consumer Affairs provides non-emergency mental health and substance abuse services. Call 800-560-5767.
• The SAMHSA National Helpline offers free, confidential treatment, referral and information services (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. Call 800-662-HELP (4357).

LISTEN TO SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING PODCASTS

SEL Resources: The District's SEL team joins 88.5FM to explain what social emotional learning is and shares a variety of community resources available to support students and families. LISTEN

Family Activities: The District's SEL team joins 88.5FM to share activities that families can do at home to support social emotional wellness. LISTEN

• Video 1: Dealing with Anxiety & Stress

• Video 2: Breathing and Mindfulness
• Video 3: Controlling Anger (Self-Regulation)
• Video 4: Maximizing Time with Family

• Video 5: Stay Focused During Virtual Learning

National Gratitude Month in November encourages us to embrace the power of gratitude.

Gratitude is more than simply saying “thank you.” Gratitude’s amazing powers have the ability to shift us from focusing on the negative to appreciating what is positive in our lives. Practicing daily gratitude gives us a deeper connection to ourselves, the world around us, and to our Creator.

Everything in our lives has the ability to improve when we are grateful. Research has shown that gratitude can enhance our moods, decrease stress, and drastically improve our overall level of health and wellbeing. On average, grateful people tend to have fewer stress-related illnesses and experience less depression and lowered blood pressure, they are more physically fit, they are happier, have a higher income, more satisfying personal and professional relationships, and will be better liked. Grateful kids are even more likely to get A’s in school.

If everyone practiced daily gratitude, we could change ourselves and the planet for the better. Everyone would be much happier. Love would grow and hate would decrease. And the world would know true peace.

What are you waiting for? Give gratitude a try! You’ll be happier you did.