August Newsletter Highlights:
August Newsletter Highlights:
- Hearts & Minds Wellness Initiative Overview
- Back-to-School Tips and Resources
Encourage Involvement! Club sign-up is Wed. 8/26 during Anchor Advisory
- Local Events & Resource Overview
Embedded Files
Parent Survey: Wellness Topics for '26-27 Workshops
Welcome!
Welcome!
Notre Dame College Prep, in line with the tradition of Holy Cross, has long demonstrated a commitment to student mental health and well-being. Beginning in 2023, NDCP expanded these efforts to respond to the complex challenges faced by today's youth by introducing The Hearts & Minds Wellness Initiative.
Through collaboration with the NDCP Counseling Department and Student Services team members, this initiative offers mental health education/SEL education and services to empower Dons to prioritize their well-being.
Each month, this site will be updated for families featuring news, resources, events and information related to wellness topics that impact our NDCP school community.
We hope that this page will become a trusted resource for parents and community members as we work together to form healthy hearts and minds.
The newly updated Wellness Room will be open for Community Period Drop-Ins and counseling groups beginning this Fall!
The space offers tools to help students regulate emotions and stress during the school day.
Our Counseling Team
Our Counseling Team
Supporting your student's transition to a new school year
Supporting your student's transition to a new school year
Starting a new school year can bring a mix of emotions for students, staff, and parents.
We'll share parent resources to help you guide your student's transition via our Instagram page @ndcp_heartsandmindswellness and below.
If you have concerns about your student's transition into the new school year, please encourage him to connect with his teachers and contact his School Counselor.
Dr. John Duffy offers a raw perspective on the reality of heading back to school in a complex world--calling us to focus on bringing hope and connection to our young people.
Dr. John Duffy offers a raw perspective on the reality of heading back to school in a complex world--calling us to focus on bringing hope and connection to our young people.
Psychologist & Best Selling Author of "Rescuing Our Sons" and "Parenting The New Teen in the Age of Anxiety"
Psychologist & Best Selling Author of "Rescuing Our Sons" and "Parenting The New Teen in the Age of Anxiety"
🧠 Gentle Youth Mental Health Check-In Questions:
"How has your heart been feeling lately?”
“What’s been on your mind this week?”
“On a scale of 1–10, how stressed are you feeling?”
“Has anything felt heavy or lonely lately?”
“What’s one thing that made you smile this week?”
Well-Being On-Campus
Well-Being On-Campus
Heads Up! 📢
Heads Up! 📢
Club Sign-Up is Wednesday, August 26th
Club Sign-Up is Wednesday, August 26th
*Dons can join clubs at any time throughout the year*
" I’m finding that the high school students I work with who are most engaged in school are also well-engaged in something extracurricular: a sport, a group, a play, a club, the band. I don’t much care what it is, as long as they feel they are a part of something bigger than themselves. If they’re a part of any one of these, they feel they are a part of that something larger, the social fabric of their school itself. They’re part of a group they don’t want to let down. And these extracurricular activities are so closely tied to the school that kids engaged in them are so much more likely to attend school.
So get your kid involved, and get them involved early. You don’t get many non-negotiables as parents these days. Make this one of them. Your kids will develop a sense of competence and resilience learning the skill set attached to the activity, for sure. They’ll develop new relationships. And regardless of the activity, they’ll learn to work as part of a team. You’ll have to trust me on this: they’ll be far more likely to show up and engage, and their academic work will also benefit enormously." - Dr. John Duffy
Student Leaders will meet with Freshmen and Sophomores on 8/26 during Anchor Advisory to build excitement around club participation!
Do you know a Don who cares about mental health and wellness related topics?
Do you know a Don who cares about mental health and wellness related topics?
Dons Care Crew is seeking new members for the '26-27 School Year! Encourage your Don to sign up during advisory or drop-in to our first meeting on Wed. 8/26 @ 12:20 in Rm 210.
Dons Care Crew is seeking new members for the '26-27 School Year! Encourage your Don to sign up during advisory or drop-in to our first meeting on Wed. 8/26 @ 12:20 in Rm 210.
During our May Mental Health Awareness Expo, Dons created their own "Pause Pouches" courtesy of NAMI-CCS filled with items to help them relax and cope during difficult times.
Local Events & Webinars
Local Events & Webinars
NDCP is a proud partner of the GPS Parent Series, offering both in-person and virtual workshops. Join our audience of parents/caregivers, students, school staff, mental health professionals, youth organizations and the community at large to learn about issues facing today’s youth, adolescents and young adults.
NDCP is a proud partner of the GPS Parent Series, offering both in-person and virtual workshops. Join our audience of parents/caregivers, students, school staff, mental health professionals, youth organizations and the community at large to learn about issues facing today’s youth, adolescents and young adults.
Visit their site and click "Receive Program Updates" to subscribe to their mailing list so you never miss a topic that interests you!
Local Assistance & Crisis Resources for Families
Local Assistance & Crisis Resources for Families
Crisis Hotlines:
Crisis Hotlines:
- Suicide & Crisis Hotline: Call or Text 988 if you need someone to talk to when life is challenging
- Safe2Help Illinois: Text SAFE2, 1-844-4-SAFEIL or visit SAFE2HELPIL.com to share safety issues in a confidential manner.
- Help Stop Hate: 1-877-458-HATE to access a confidential service to report an act of hate.
Counseling Services:
Counseling Services:
- Plena Mind Center: 847-562-5612
- Niles Family Services: 847-588-8460
- Josselyn Center: Schedule an appointment at 847-441-5600
- Willow House (Grief Support for Loss of Family Member): 847-236-9300
Food and Shelter:
Food and Shelter:
- Good Food Pantry: (773) 294-9912
- Cook County Emergency Shelter List: https://cookcountysheriffil.gov/evictions/social-services/emergency-shelter-transitional/
Follow us on Instagram where we share webinars, local events, articles & trending topics!
Follow us on Instagram where we share webinars, local events, articles & trending topics!
Emily Danielak, Wellness Director
E-mail: wellness@nddons.org
Follow Hearts & Minds Wellness Initiative on Instagram:
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