Lighthouse School, Inc.
January 27, 2023
"Small opportunities are often the beginning of great achievements."
-Demosthenes
"If you realize your responsibility, you will realize your destiny."
- Tasneem Hameed
In This Edition:
Announcements:
The Bioeducational Theme for the month of February is Social Responsibility.
Quarter 3 began on Monday, January 23rd
January's Bioeducational Newsletters will be sent home on Friday, January 27th
MCAS High School Biology testing dates: Wednesday, February 1st and Thursday, February 2nd
Parent Advisory Breakfast
Substance Use Prevention Week: February 6th through February 10th
School will be closed:
February 20th through February 24th - School Vacation
Substance Use Prevention Week
At Lighthouse School we are committed to addressing the devastating issue of substance use and, more importantly, treating the features underlying it as a means to advance the long-term well-being of America’s youth. During the month of February, our Clinical Services Division will be facilitating therapeutic groups on drug education and substance abuse.
The issue of substance use is a painful and tragic reminder of the challenges confronting today’s youth and the devastating consequences that can result. We must resist the temptation to blame others and/or to believe ourselves and our families immune. There is no easy fix, no simple solution to this, and similar issues. That being said, it is equally clear that, as a state, a society, a culture, we must pay greater attention to the emotional struggles and needs of our youth.
In terms of substance abuse and addiction, we believe that it is imperative to look beyond the presenting issue or symptom and to more general, underlying features. When one looks beyond presenting symptoms, there are clear yet often unrecognized and under-appreciated affective issues, conflicts, and needs underlying these overt symptoms. It is this perspective that guides our approach to, and treatment, of substance use and abuse.
Research tells us that students benefit from receiving ongoing and age-relevant drug education and from the opportunity to discuss and process these issues. We will do this by focusing on medications, poisonous substances, vaping, and passive smoking in early childhood classrooms; energy drinks, tobacco, vaping, cannabis, and alcohol in middle school classrooms; and alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs (including illicit drugs like methamphetamine) in secondary school classrooms.
MCAS Testing
Lighthouse School is committed to making state-mandated testing as successful as possible for all participating students. There are several things that we do to help prepare the students for these required tests and to create a positive test-taking experience. We provide them with opportunities to become familiar with different test formats, terminology and test-taking strategies for multiple-choice and open-response questions.
In addition, students should be encouraged to participate in all testing opportunities offered at school. Encourage your child to carefully listen to or read all directions, ask questions if anything is unclear or confusing, and try to maintain a positive attitude. It is important to validate any feelings of fear, anxiety, frustration, and stress experienced by students participating in any of these assessments.
Lastly, you can help your child to prepare for these tests by ensuring they are well rested and have had a good breakfast.
Communication
With winter upon us, we wanted to share with you some important information regarding our NOTIFY System, as well as our Inclement Weather Policy.
For urgent communication with families, Lighthouse School uses the NOTIFY System. Notify is the supplemental system that enables us to communicate directly with you about emergency situations or other matters of urgent importance. The system can forward personalized voice messages to your family's home, work, or cell phones, as well as send communications via email and text message. Because of this system, we are able to contact all families in a timely and efficient manner. When a call comes from Lighthouse School, your Caller ID will display Lighthouse School and/or the telephone number 978-251-4050. It is important to make sure that we have the most current and up-to-date telephone numbers and email addresses to ensure the delivery of any urgent communication to you.
Inclement Weather Policy: Only in inclement weather will television announcements for Chelmsford Public School cancellations also apply to Lighthouse School. Chelmsford Public School cancellations for any other reason (power outages, no heat, etc.) will not impact Lighthouse School and we will be open as usual. Please use your own judgment concerning the weather in your city or town when deciding whether or not to send your child to school, even in the event that Lighthouse School is open. Lighthouse School does not have delayed openings.
February
February's Theme of the Month: Social Responsibility
One of the values we hope to instill in our students is Social Responsibility: the belief that we impact others and the world around us. Our students often focus on themselves and it is important that we discuss our obligation to help others and give back to the community. This starts small with our youngest students as they learn to share with classmates or pick up their supplies after a craft project so others may use the materials next. Social Responsibility becomes much more meaningful as our students mature into young adults as they realize the impact that their actions have on their community. A few examples include standing up for their beliefs, volunteering, or getting a job. We help our students build an awareness of Social Responsibility through group and individual lessons at all times, but it is a specific area of focus throughout the month of February.
As we explore Social Responsibility at school, we invite you to practice Social Responsibility at home with your children. Here is a list of simple activities:
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Make a conscious effort with your student to reduce waste, get creative, and think of a second life for objects (a shoebox can make for great storage), or focus on recycling. Thank students for helping the environment.
Turn It Off: Turn off the running water while you brush your teeth or turn out your lights when you leave a room. A simple step can save water or conserve electricity. Thank students for thinking about your home.
Cleanup Crew: Next snowstorm, have the whole family chip in to remove the snow. Thank students for their help and emphasize that the job was faster due to their help.
Philosophy Amplification Project:
"Floor Tiles"
The third highlight of our Philosophy Amplification Project is "Floor Tiles." These are multi-colored tiles that make up the hallways at Lighthouse School. Although they are linked to Homerooms and Clusters in the school, they also represent, home, community and neighborhood and a sense of belonging.
The Biodevelopmental components are: Consistency, Synergy, and Teamwork
How to use the floor tiles:
The student's are asked what they think of the tiles.
Guide students to consider the colors, the clusters and where their homerooms are located within the school.
Do they have a sense of belonging in their cluster?
Is it important to go to a school that is bright and clean? Why?
Whose responsibility is it to keep the school looking that way?
MA & NH Community Activities
Looking for things to do in your community? Check out the links below.
Behavioral Health Help Line in Massachusetts
The state of Massachusett's ‘front door’ to behavioral health care is set to open as demand for services soars.
Whether in crisis or just not sure where to turn, people will now be able to call or text the Behavioral Health Help Line at 833-773-2445, or walk into one of 25 designated centers. If all goes as planned, immediately a clinician will assess the situation and connect the person with help, regardless of the type of insurance they have.
The Help Line will operate around the clock. The person answering the phone will be either a clinician or a trained specialist who has personal experience with behavioral health issues.
In addition to the Help Line, the “Roadmap for Behavioral Health Care Reform” establishes mobile teams ready to respond immediately to those in crisis and calls upon 25 Community Behavioral Health Centers to provide swift and flexible care in every city and town across Massachusetts. The hope is that fewer people will flock to hospital emergency departments, where they now spend days or weeks waiting for help.
Beacon Health Options in New Hampshire
Beacon Health Options operates the New Hampshire Rapid Response Access Point (NHRRAP) on behalf of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, and in partnership with the New Hampshire Community Behavioral Health Association. The NHRRAP provides individuals in the state of New Hampshire with immediate, 24/7 access to mental health and/or substance use crisis support via telephone, text, and chat services at 833-710-6477.
Beacon is responsible for a centralized contact center for individuals experiencing a mental health and/or substance use crisis. Our contact center consolidates and streamlines access to mental health and substance use disorder services when you need them most.
Crisis services are available to anyone in New Hampshire. Depending on your needs, the crisis contact center can:
Send a team member from a community mental health center to meet you right where you are – in your home, or another location in the community.
Provide rapid response follow-up appointments that include crisis intervention services.
Refer you to inpatient treatment options, if appropriate, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – including holidays.
Our Resources
Family Support Line
As a reminder, our therapists are available to offer clinical support to families and students 24 hours a day. If you are in need of assistance, please call our support line, starting with Line 1.
Line #1: (978) 821-1351
If you are not able to connect with a therapist or do not get a response within 10 minutes, please try Line 2.
Line #2: (978) 821-0316
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