Diocese of Fall River, Mass. † Friday, September 17, 2021
Diocesan schools focus on social emotional professional development
FALL RIVER — Within distractions which add a has also contributed to an the past few years, there lot of pressure during these increase in family difficulhas been a huge increase formative years of develties as the stresses of lost in the social and emotional opment; thus students of jobs, financial challengneeds of students across es, and limited personal all ages are suffering from all age groups, economic contact have taken a toll on mental health issues more status, and cultural backeveryone, including chilthan ever before. grounds. A dren. It is no 2018 Pew ReThe pandemic has also contributed to an in- surprise that search Center crease in family difficulties as the stresses of lost schools are survey of jobs, financial challenges, and limited personal encountering kids between contact have taken a toll on everyone, including a soaring 13 and 17 number of children. concluded students with that seven social and in 10 teens think anxiety emotional needs and are The advent of the and depression are major looking for ways to help COVID-19 pandemic and problems for their peers them. its lingering effects exand that almost 60 percent acerbate this problem by During the final two of kids categorize bullying disrupting student scheddays of August, the Dioas the second most major cese of Fall River Catholic ules and environments, in problem for their peers . schools prepared their addition to heightening There are dozens of other teachers, administrators concerns about the health studies that confirm toand staff members to meet and well-being of friends day’s students are full of and family. The pandemic 8 Turn to page 12
Teachers and school leaders break out into smaller groups to better identify the specific social emotional needs of their students, at the recent social emotional professional development sessions sponsored by the diocesan Catholic Schools Alliance .
Beth Mahoney, principal at St. Stanislaus School in Fall River, was recently installed as president of the National Council of Catholic Women, at the national meeting in Arlington, Va. on August 28. With Mahoney are, from left, Bishop Michael Buridge of the Diocese of Arlington, Va., and Father Thomas Washburn, pastor of the Catholic Community of Central Fall River.
Diocesan woman installed as President-Elect of NCCW By Dave Jolivet Editor
davejolivet@anchornews.org
ARLINGTON, Va. — At its annual convention on August 28, the National Conference of Catholic Women installed Beth Mahoney, a member of the Fall River Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, as NCCW President-Elect, beginning a six-year term with the longstanding Catholic women’s organization. Mahoney is the first person from the Diocese of Fall River to be elected to this position, which includes two years as President-Elect, two as President, and two as Past President. She is also
currently the principal at St. Stanislaus School in Fall River. “I was excited to learn I was elected, a little surprised and very grateful,” Mahoney told The Anchor. Mahoney, who is no stranger to the NCCW, having served on its board for the last six years; having chaired the Spirituality Commission and the Education Committee; and serving on the board as the Boston Province Director, chose to run for the office because she felt she had much to offer and to share with the organization and Catholic women across the country. “I believe my gifts of organizational skills and 8 Turn to page eight
September 17, 2021 †
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