Welcome Students and Families!
We want to provide some resources on social emotional learning. This is a great place for parents and students to find information, videos, activities, and more.
For information relating to student identity and school sports, please review Vermont Principal’s Association High School Athletics Policies.
Something to read: Understanding and Responding to Lying, A Positive Parenting Approach
Supporting Children with Transitions
Something to listen to: Good Inside Podcast by Dr. Becky Kennedy (listen on Spotify, listen on Apple Podcasts) Connect to the Good Kid, Under the Bad Behavior
Something to watch: Navigating your child's relationship with their phones
Resources to support Mental Health Awareness Month!
Summer is just around the corner, here are some community offerings for our students:
In case of an emergency please dial 9-1-1
Dial 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 988lifeline.org
Washington County Mental Health Crisis Number 802-229-0591
Vermont Suicide Prevention Center: https://www.vtspc.org
Facing Suicide VT: www.facingsuicidevt.org
Supporting Men in VT: www.mantherapy.org
Outright VT: https://www.outrightvt.org
The Trevor Project - LGBTQ+ Youth: www.thetrevorproject.org
The Jed Foundation - teens/college/young adults: https://www.jedfoundation.org
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: https://www.afsp.org
Veterans Suicide Prevention (including live chat line): https://www.va.gov
Suicide Prevention Resource Center - https://sprc.org
National Alliance on Mental Illness VT - https://namivt.org
It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we inform you of the passing of Mr. Steve; a beloved member of our Brookside community. This is sadly the second staff member who has passed away this school year.
We understand that this news may be upsetting to many of our students, families, and staff members. Please know that we are here to support our community through this difficult time. We have included resources at the bottom of this message and we encourage you to reach out to our counseling or administrative team if you or your child(ren) need support or someone to talk to.
Resources:
Helping Young Children With Traumatic Grief- Tips for Caregivers
Helping School Age Children with Traumatic Grief- Tips for Caregivers
BPS Comfortship (grief resources scroll half way down the page)
Hannah's House is a good local resource in the valley
Central VT Home Health and Hospice offers some Grief and Loss Support Groups and Bereavement care for families for up to 12 months after loss of a loved one
The WCMHS Children's Navigation Coordinator has been helpful in providing resources and additional agencies we can reach out to for support.
Book: How the Body Stops Working, Thirteen Kid Friendly Explanations by Tyler Fanning and Jill MacFarlane
Book: Part of Me Died Too: Stories of Creative Survival Among Bereaved Children and Teenagers, written by Virginia Fry, a Grief and Loss Counselor
More than 1 out of every 5 students report being bullied. National Bullying Prevention Month (NBPM) is a campaign founded in 2006 by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. The campaign is held during the month of October and connects communities around the world to help prevent bullying. The past few years, a worldwide pandemic and a growing movement for racial equity and social justice have highlighted the need to unite communities for a better future. It is more important than ever to join together in creating a world that is kinder, more accepting, and more inclusive. Take action at school, at home, in your neighborhood, at a local business, or in your workplace to show that you care about kids being safe at school, online, and in the community. (Pacer.org)
Bullying should NEVER be tolerated. If you or someone you know is being bullied, there are things you can do to keep yourself and others safe from bullying. Check out the resources below: