NEWS
Text About It are willing to help." Teachers can offer support, resources, and build a conversation with students according to McDonough. Students can choose to share their identity with teachers if they wish. Students can ask for help, resource numbers, or just have a BY ANA PENDERGAST conversation. WEB MANAGING EDITOR “Hopefully it opens a conversation and that eventually would feel comfortable. But they don’t The administration is introducing a new necessarily have to,” McDonough said. “Maybe wellness and communication tool called txtit’s just a conversation they want to keep going about-it. The new program will allow students to anonymously. Maybe they just need somebody to anonymously text selected teachers and to talk listen every now and then.” when they are feeling stressed or overwhelmed. If a student makes a threat to themselves, “It’s an anonymous way for students who others, or the school, the program can identify the are feeling stressed, or maybe they want to report student, which students agree to when they log abuse, maybe they just are feeling down or maybe in. The school will not be able to see the names somebody’s bullying them or maybe somebody of students unless these harassing them,” High School circumstances are met. Principal Natalie McDonough However, Campbell said. “They can anonymously worries that students may text somebody at the school.” not adopt the program or Along with counselors believe that they will stay and administrators, students anonymous, but hopes they can text four teachers that Tuesday, October 23 will learn to trust it. have been selected. The Some students are student can choose which hesitant to share with the teacher, counselor or faculty MESSAGES teachers over text and member to text and will All students will be worry about the anonymity remain anonymous. There anonymous of the program. are 13 total faculty and staff MESSAGES “I think one of the members they can choose Students can text from biggest challenges will be from. Selected staff members 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. getting students to adopt attended a training for the new MESSAGES it as an outlet,” Campbell program. 13 faculty members will said. “I think once students “He trained us on the be available understand that it is interface of the website and anonymous it will be a great how to set up our accounts.” resource for them,” Librarian Jennifer Campbell The new program will said. “Then he sent us some be explained to students extra stuff on how to be a during class meetings Oct. resource.” 23. It will allow students to Administrators (Illustration by Ana Pendergast) have better access to help McDonough, Ellen Carmody and give them a way to express their problems in a and Fran Koehler, counselors Erika Ellwanger, Karen Phillips, Laura King, Erin Stein and Heather new way, according to senior Hope Locke. “It’ll make the counselors so much more Henning, Athletic Director Kate Pilgreen, Campus available,” Locke said. “It will be more comfortable Minister Stephanie Pino-Dressman, Biology because sometimes it’s hard to say it in person teacher Erin Paterson, Campbell, and journalism because your emotions get the best of you.” teacher Alison Long have been selected to be According to McDonough, the school available to students. received federal money for a wellness program for “I think it will be a phenomenal asset of grades 6-12. Both grade school principal Dr. Paola getting students who may be struggling with any Clark and McDonough decided this tool would number of things,” Campbell said, “even if it's just be a great program to help with wellness and anxiety for a test, and having them reach out and communication. know that the adults in this community care and
The administration is introducing a new program that will allow students to anonymously text teachers to aid in student wellness.
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Women’s Wellness Week November 6-15 Wellness Peer Education and Women’s Awareness Clubs will be partnering to sponsor a week devoted to promoting women’s wellness. Activities will include self-defense, yoga, and compliment cookies. Following is the tentative schedule and topics.
MONDAY COMBATING JEALOUSY Shout Outs at Lunch Writing Kind Notes
TUESDAY SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS Self-Defense at Lunch
WEDNESDAY POSITIVE BODY IMAGE White Board Wednesday, Compliment Cookies and Cuties
THURSDAY TO BE DETERMINED... Shout Outs at Lunch Writing Kind Notes
FRIDAY MINDFULNESS Yoga
06 LE JOURNAL
