May '25

Additional Resources for May: Mental Health Awareness Month

Parents, Guardians and Caretakers; 

Often, it is a very difficult decision to determine if and when to get help for your child. And, then there's the question of where, and how to get professional help for my child? This can already be an extremely stressful time for you and your family but making these important decisions only add to this burden of stress. A great national mental health resource that can provide options and guide you through the process until you are ready to connect with local professionals in your area is The Child Mind Institute. Their webpage here is dedicated to mental health awareness month. It offers recommendations and suggestions for; accessing care, providing a mental health toolkit to determine the risk and when it is important to seek help, as well as helping families understand what their child may be experiencing and the best ways to support them. Another great resouce is The National Institute of Mental Health. Here, you will find informative videos and information regarding mental health and its challenges. Additionally, they offer FREE resources for you and your child; such as free, printable activity/coloring pages related to learning about the parts of our brains or managing stress, for example.  Check this out! As always, in an urgent and/or emergency situation, it is imperative not to wait and you should always respond immediately by visiting the nearest emergency room or calling 9-1-1. 

This Month's News "worthy" Updates: 

 Social Emotional Learning:  Building wide PBIS

This month, our SEL (Social-Emotional Learning) lessons are centered around Personal Safety and Assertiveness—critical life skills that empower students to protect themselves, communicate effectively, and make safe, respectful choices.

Throughout May, students will:

• Identify trusted adults and build a Personal Safety Network

• Practice self-advocacy by learning how to speak up for their needs

• Learn to use assertive language instead of blaming or accusing

• Explore digital citizenship and how to stay safe and respectful online

These lessons support our Portrait of a Bee traits: Responsible Decision Maker, Respectful Citizen, Communicator, and Collaborator. We encourage families to ask students about what they’re learning and reinforce these concepts at home!

Encouraging Responsibility for your Child

As sports, recitals, and end-of-year events fill the calendar, spring and summer are the perfect times to help children grow their sense of responsibility:

• Give small jobs: Setting the table, packing their own activity bag, or helping with a checklist builds confidence.

• Use visual schedules: Help kids see what’s coming and what they’re in charge of (bonus if the pictures on the checklist are photos of their actual things).

• Talk about time management: “How long do you think this will take?” can build planning skills.

• Celebrate follow-through: Recognize effort, not just the outcome—especially when kids are trying something new.

Teaching responsibility now sets the stage for a more confident, capable summer and beyond.

Here are a few additional resources....Check these out! 

• Learn how to Make a Healthy Snack (PBS learning media) 

• Keep It Clean (PBS Super Why; importance of Good Hand Washing) 

• Good Sleep; But Why? (PBS podcast) 

• Kids Vision visits the Playground (playground safety rules with PBS kids)