Looking back on our first week, administrators, teachers and staff members have welcomed students back and you can feel the energy in our schools as we continue to get acclimated to having all of our students back five days a week!

I had the pleasure of riding the bus the first day of school with one of the most amazing bus drivers, Mary VanDuyne and bus monitor Mandy Hutt. Both did a fabulous job greeting our youngest learners by name as they boarded the bus, many for the first time. As a superintendent and as a mother of two girls who has had the experience of watching my own children's "firsts", there is nothing better that seeing in real time new beginnings unfold and the pride on each parent's face as they take first day of school photos. As I enter my first full year, I couldn't be more proud to lead a District where every student matters and belongs.

Click here for the link to the full story: https://www.newarkcsd.org/cms/lib/NY01000239/Centricity/Domain/1/A%20Belonging%20District.pdf

Series of YouTube Videos Addresses Concerns from New Yorkers and Offers Tips for Coping

The New York State Office of Mental Health today announced a series of ‘Back to School 2021’ videos to assist and support parents, caregivers and students as they prepare for the new school year.

OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “This has been an extremely trying year for the students of New York and for their parents. Some students haven’t been in the classroom for 18 months. Others have had to juggle hybrid learning. It’s been a period of extreme sacrifice and now, as we prepare to enter the 2021-22 school year, we want parents and students to know that we are here to support you and your mental health.”

The videos are targeted to parents and caregivers as well students with topics that include:

• the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on children and adolescents,
• ways to support yourself and others,
• how to get help when you need it,
• age-specific information on promoting mental wellness in children- from birth to young adulthood.
• an overview of the Crisis Text Line, a national, text-based crisis counselor service.

OMH surveyed hundreds of New York children and families to learn what might be causing anxiety and concern ahead of this school year. The videos will help kids and parents deal with the stress and other issues caused by the pandemic over the last 18 months, and also offer additional resources that have been compiled by the Office of Mental Health, including:

• Resiliency tips for New Yorkers,
• Conversation starters to check in on someone’s mental health,
• Brochures on supporting children’s Emotional Development by age group, and
• NY Project Hope resources for teens, parents, and young children.

Additionally, OMH’s NY Project Hope Emotional Support Helpline (1-844-863-9314) continues to help support students and caregivers during this transition. The Helpline is open from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm Monday through Friday. Trained crisis counselors can listen to your concerns and offer suggestions for coping. It also provides linkages for callers who need additional support.

OMH launched the Emotional Support Helpline in March 2020 as part of the agency’s COVID-19 response and to date the line has handled 70,000 calls and provided free, confidential, and anonymous assistance to New Yorkers across the state.

High School: Haley Curley, Alex Hennessy, Caty Hugunine, Mike Johnson, Stephanie Specht, James Zeger

Middle School: Spencer Byrne, Laura Chmil, Lindsay Dibble

Kelley School: Elizabeth Bradstreet, Jennifer Kohlenberg, Shannon McGinnis

Lincoln School: Keara Foley

Perkins School: Kathryn Schilstra, Sara Beth Stachura

District: Julia Rodriguez and Jane Seamans

In response to the needs of our community, I am excited to introduce to you a Safe School Helpline as a preventative measure to safeguard our students and our schools PreK -12. This helpline has been developed for you, our students, parents and staff members to help maintain safety and the most positive school environment possible. The hotline can be used to report wrongdoings or illegal activity. Any type of information involving a threatening situation to students, the school or staff should be reported. Examples include thoughts of suicide or self-harm, violence, weapons, bullying, drugs and alcohol and theft. It is confidential, anonymous and available 24/7. For students that need immediate assistance, a counselor will be on hand and responsive.

To access this line, just call from a touch-tone phone to 1-800-4-1-VOICE, ext. 359 (418-6423) to leave your information. Or TEXT: 614-426-0240 Then type: TIPS Your message will not be traced and you will not be identified. The Safe School Helpline® team will transcribe and fax your message to school officials, so appropriate action can be taken. Posters and brochures will be visible throughout the District and information will also be on our website.

Thank you again for your continued support to continually improve your child’s education and sense of belonging in our District. If you have any questions regarding the Safe School Helpline, please don’t hesitate to call. I am looking forward to an amazing school year!

Please click here to access additional information on our Safe School Helpline from our website: https://www.newarkcsd.org/safeschoolhelpline

The next Board meeting will be held on September 15th at 6:30 PM. You can find a complete list of the Board meetings happening during the 2021-22 school year on our website. Please check the website closer to each meeting date for the agenda.

The Newark Central School District is in immediate need of the following positions that offer full benefits:

• Custodians
  
• Bus Drivers
  
• Bus Monitors

Please complete an application that can be found under the Human Resources tab on the Newark website, www.newarkcsd.org and return to Susan Carr in Human Resources.