Welcome Letter

Welcome Wilcox-Hildreth Parents/Guardians,

With the amount of information that is being released on the COVID-19 or Coronavirus, we understand that a lot of people are feeling anxious and/or even scared. As the school counselors, we wanted to reach out to parents and guardians to address mental health during this time. 

As everyone processes information differently, and you or your child(ren) may have great concern about COVID-19. It is our hope that all of our families will stay safe and healthy. There is a lot of information regarding physical things you can do to prevent the spread of illness, and we hope you will make yourselves familiar and practice those suggestions habitually. Please keep in mind that when school is closed, it is important to keep student(s) at home and limit outside contact to help avoid exposure. However, we want to address the good mental health practices that you should become familiar with during these unprecedented times. 

With the amount of information that is constantly available regarding COVID-19, it may be a good practice to limit the times and amounts in which you are exposed. It is important to keep up to date on the current threat to your area, business and organization closings, and updates regarding preventative and healing practices. Practice watching or checking online updates at designated times for limited durations. Children and adults may become overwhelmed if they become obsessed with something they are not able to control. 

Watch and discuss global happenings away from young children. Have deliberate and calm conversations with them about changes in their routine. You can model emotional management to your children by calmly sharing your feelings with them about what is going on and asking about how it is making them feel. Drawing and journaling are great activities you can use to help your children process their feelings about what is happening. 

Mental health awareness is important all of the time. There are things you and your child(ren) can do to practice good mental health. Our hope is that this website can be a place to provide resources for you and your family. If you or your child(ren) start experiencing extreme worry, anxiety, fear, depression, or hopelessness, it may be suggested to contact a mental health professional depending on the severity of the situation. 

Last, please know that our district is not making these decisions lightly. Our students, their families, and our staff’s wellbeing and safety are always at the heart of our decisions. As a district, it is now the most important time that we stand together and support one another. We know our students and community are resilient, and we are problem solvers. We have never had to react to an event such as the current situation, but with adversity there is change. Look for the helpers and find the good. Be a part of the solution. 

Please feel free to contact us with any concerns or questions on how to support your student(s). 

Thank you,      

Kelly Simmons kelly.simmons@whfalcons.org        

K-6 School Counselor/Upper Elem.   Assistant Principal

Wade Brashear  wade.brashear@whfalcons.org                        

7-12 School Counselor