                      Affton School District Social Workers
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Welcome Back Cougars! đ
Welcome Back Cougars! đ
Welcome to a new school year! The start of a new school year can bring excitement, new opportunities, and sometimes a few challenges as families adjust to new routines and transitions. Our school social work team is here to support students and families throughout the school year.                          Â
How We Can Help
Individual student check-ins and support
Attendance concerns
Referrals to community resources
Food and basic needs assistance
Housing transitions and McKinney-Vento support
Foster care and refugee family support
Family advocacy
Crisis and emotional support
Connecting families with mental health resources
SST & Care Team support                            Â
Every Day Counts! đ
Every Day Counts! đ
Regular attendance helps students stay connected to their teachers, classmates, learning, and school community. We understand that sometimes things happen that make getting to school difficult.
If your family is experiencing a barrier to attendance- such as transportation, housing changes, illness, family circumstances, or another challenge, please reach out. We are here to help problem-solve and connect you with resources.                      Â
đ Back-to-School Support
đ Back-to-School Support
Need a little extra help getting ready for the school year?
If your family needs school supplies, clothing, food assistance, or other basic needs, please reach out to us. We are happy to help connect you with available resources.
đ Important Links
District Calendar
Community Resource Hub
Affton Student Services TeamÂ
Affton student services information & resourcesÂ
Free and Reduced Meals
Once the application is completed and e-signed, please submit via email.
Canvas Login
https://afftonschools.instructure.com/login/canvas
Parent Portal & Online Payments
đ§ Mental Health & Wellness Tip
đ§ Mental Health & Wellness Tip
Starting a new school year can bring excitement, nerves, and big feelings. Give your family time and grace as everyone adjusts to new routines.
Try a simple âBack-to-School Check-Inâ with your child:
Ask what they are excited and nervous about.
Re-establish healthy sleep and morning routines.
Set one small goal together for the new school year.
Remind them that it's okay to ask for help when they need it.
đĄ Bonus Idea: Have everyone in the family share one word or emoji that describes how theyâre feeling about the new school year.Â
Free Activities & Back-to-School Fun - St. Louis Area
Free Activities & Back-to-School Fun - St. Louis Area
đ˝ Tower Grove Farmersâ Market - Saturdays
Visit Tower Grove Park on Saturday mornings from 8 a.m -12:30 p.m  for a free family outing. Browse local vendors, enjoy the park, and make it a simple weekend family tradition.
đ Free Library Programs
Local libraries offer free storytimes, crafts, reading programs, and activities for children and teens throughout the month. Check your neighborhood library's calendar for upcoming programs.
đł Free Family Time at Local Parks
Make the most of the final days of summer with a picnic, playground visit, nature walk, bike ride, or game at one of St. Louis City's or County's many parks. No special event is needed, a simple afternoon outside can be a great way to reconnect before school gets busy.
đ¨ Free Family Days at the Saint Louis Art Museum
Families can enjoy free admission to the museum and participate in Family Sundays and other family-friendly programming throughout the year. A great way to enjoy art and spend time together in Forest Park.
đŞ Greentree Festival â September 18â20
Head to Kirkwood Park for this free, family-friendly festival featuring live music, crafts, children's activities, and more.
đ¨ Saint Louis Art Fair â September 18â20
Visit Downtown Clayton for the annual Saint Louis Art Fair. Admission is free and families can enjoy artwork, music, and outdoor activities.
đż St. Louis Lebanese Festival â September 18â20
Enjoy free admission and parking while experiencing Lebanese culture, music, and family-friendly activities at St. Raymond's Maronite Cathedral.
đ Great Forest Park Balloon Race â September 20
Watch the colorful hot-air balloons fill the sky at Forest Park. The event is free and makes for a fun family outing.
đ¨ Art in the Park â September 27
Enjoy a free family event at Francis Park featuring art, music, food, and activities for the community.
đ Stargazing & Outdoor Adventures
Take advantage of free outdoor activities like stargazing, nature walks, and exploring local parks as the weather begins to cool. Tower Grove Park has free stargazing and nature programs scheduled in September.
Community Resources
St. Louis County Childrenâs Service Fund Interactive Map â This is an interactive map to help you easily locate mental and behavioral health services for your child in St. Louis County. It also includes information on which insurances are accepted and coverage that may be available through this fund (many of these services are offered free of charge).
Behavioral Health Response â BHR provides crisis support, telephone counseling, and mental health resources 24 hours/day
988 Suicide and crisis lifeline
Food & Meal ResourcesÂ
Food & Meal ResourcesÂ
Cougar Backpack Pantry Program (Through Affton School District)
Families who may benefit from additional food support are encouraged to reach out to the school social work team about the Cougar Backpack Pantry Program.
Missouri SUN Bucks â Apply by August 31
Missouri SUN Bucks provides $120 per eligible school-aged child to help families purchase nutritious food during the summer months. Families who may qualify can apply through August 31, 2026. Missouri SUN Bucks Information & Application
St. Louis County Library â Food & Nutrition Resources
St. Louis County Library offers food and nutrition resources throughout the year, including MetroMarket, which provides fresh, affordable produce at select library branches. (St. Louis County Library)
đ˝ď¸ Community Meals
Free and low-cost meals are available through community organizations throughout the St. Louis area. Because schedules can change, families are encouraged to call ahead or check before visiting.
Central Baptist Church - Tuesdays | 11:45 AM | 2845 Washington Ave.
Soup Alley/Trinity Church - Monday-Saturday | 9:30-10:30 AM | 812 Soulard Ave.
St. Johnâs Episcopal Church - Saturdays | 4:00-5:30 PM | 3672 Arsenal St.
St. Patrick Center - Daily | 12:00-12:30 PM | 800 N. Tucker Blvd.
St. Peter & Paul Parish - Monday-Friday | 5:00-5:45 PM | 1919 S. 7th St.
Weekend meal times are also available; call ahead for current schedule.St. Vincent de Paul - Various food and meal services throughout the week | 1408 S. 10th St.
The City of St. Louis maintains an updated list of local food banks and community meal resources, including the locations above. St. Louis Food Help & Community Meal Resources
Cougar Backpack Program: Weekend Food Support for Students (Affton School District)
The Cougar Backpack Program provides food bags filled with nonperishable items to help ensure that every student has access to food over the weekend
If your family would like to participate, please click the link below and complete the food preference form. Once the form is filled out, kindly email it to jcrawford@afftonschools.net or kwood@afftonschools.net, depending on your student's grade level
đFill out this formÂ
Thank you for allowing us to support your family. All information will be kept confidential
Free and Reduced Lunches (Affton School District)
Log into Infinite Campus Parent Portal on phone app
If you do not know your username or password, please contact your students building administrative assistant for help with retrieving that information
Once logged in you will select the Menu tab on the upper left hand side of the screen in green. (it has three horizontal lines)
Then you will go all the way down to the bottom of the menu items and select More
Under More you will then select Meal Benefits
Then under Meal Benefits you will select the blue Meal Benefits ApplicationÂ
Then after you submit the application, a letter of your free/reduced meal application meal status will be emailed to you.
* Please note that the application date is the date that your meal application takes in effectÂ
Fillable PDF Free & Reduced Price Meal Application
Once the application is completed and e-signed, please submit via email. You can then send the application to Claire Smith at csmith@afftonschools.net
đ§ Social-Emotional & Back-to-School Wellness
đ§ Social-Emotional & Back-to-School Wellness
Easing Back Into Routine
The transition from summer back to school can bring excitement, stress, and big feelings. Give your childâand yourselfâtime to adjust.
Try these simple strategies:
Rebuild routines: Gradually return to consistent bedtimes, wake-up times, and morning routines.
Talk about feelings: Ask, âWhat are you excited about?â or âIs there anything you're worried about?â
Set small goals: Choose one simple academic, social, or personal goal for the new school year.
Make time to connect: Even 5â10 minutes of uninterrupted family time can help children feel supported.
Practice patience: New routines take time. Celebrate small successes and remind your child that it's okay to ask for help.
September Reminder: As the school year gets underway, remember that connection comes before perfection. A listening ear, a little encouragement, and consistent support can make a big difference
đ We're Here for You
đ We're Here for You
Our goal is to help every student and family feel supported, connected, and ready to have a successful school year.
If your family needs school supplies, food assistance, community resources, or support with another challenge, please don't hesitate to reach out to the school social work team. We are happy to help.
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