Helping students navigate the start of the new school year is a collaborative, weeks-long process across grades K-12. In addition to preparing students for academic success, our School Support Teams and teachers engage students in a series of activities to support social emotional wellbeing, create a sense of belonging and teach them about strategies and resources to use when they need help.
Our schools’ hands-on, Start With Hello Week activities last week helped students at all grade levels build social skills, create connections with one another and with our staff and discover simple ways to contribute to a kind and welcoming school community.
Today, the District launched its annual Help Card campaign to make it easier for students to access help if they are feeling isolated or overwhelmed. Help Cards and how-to videos are customized for each building and list contact information for school support staff and for community resources which are available 24/7. Videos were screened in classrooms and Help Cards were distributed to all.
Families are encouraged to view their child’s school video together and to reinforce that it is OK to ask for help and that there is always someone who will listen.
William O. Schaefer Elementary School video:
https://video214.com/play/hH3KX5RIbWJj1Pnyn0V1mw/s/dark
Cottage Lane Elementary School video:
https://video214.com/play/my7W3zDRYywZ2eOZijVxJQ/s/dark
South Orangetown Middle School video:
https://video214.com/play/8jBtKRc3Be4UJ5WtycMOEQ/s/dark
Tappan Zee High School video:
https://video214.com/play/k7vFkv7VhU51Pl1rAyFaxA/s/dark
Video links are also posted under the “Student Resources” section of the For Students page on each school website.
Students, staff and families can also easily access resources 24/7 on our District’s Mental Health webpage, which is linked under Quick Links on the District and school homepages.
Learn more about how a stigma-free approach supports mental health on the National Alliance for Mental Illness website.
