Hi Everyone,
By now I hope you have received and had a chance to read the message that Superintendent Light sent to members of our community regarding the Boston Globe article that was published this morning, and that profiles the student suicides that have occurred in our community over the last several years. It’s also likely that many of you have, by now, also read the article itself. I know I’m stating the obvious when I note the difficulty of reading that piece without experiencing a range of emotions. Certain feelings and questions that we’ve felt before have probably resurfaced, along with new ones introducing themselves into the dialogue. As we continue to navigate this topic through the lens and perspective of adults and parents, I know we agree about the central importance of being attentive to our children and when and/or where they may find themselves entering conversations about it with peers, classmates, and friends. For all families, I reiterate and echo Peter Light’s encouragement of parents and guardians to speak with their children as appropriate. If you’re hesitant because you feel you aren’t equipped with all the right answers for every question they may ask, I offer you this piece of learning that I’ve gained from my work with those who are very knowledgeable about this arena: for many adolescents a simple check-in may be all that is needed right now, where you acknowledge the piece and offer your child an open invitation to share their initial reactions or questions. They may or may not take you up on it at that very moment, but maybe it happens later on during a longer drive in the car to a practice or rehearsal. The offer to listen, as opposed to the providing of particular answers, is often what’s most needed and most helpful for the majority of our children. Of course, if you have reasons for additional concerns or your child is one who has received mental health support previously, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us and we can work through next steps.
In both Peter’s letter and in the Globe article, there are references to additional training, partnerships, and interventions that our District has implemented over the past three years in an effort to address suicide and mental health in general. One of those interventions is the Signs of Suicide (SOS) lesson and mental health screening tool that we now conduct annually to students in 7th and 9th grade. Because that program is scheduled to take place in mid-January, families of 7th grade families will receive notification about it when we return from the Winter Break, and so may be helpful to provide a brief preview for all of you at this time. The Signs of Suicide Prevention Program is a universal program for middle and high school students that has proven effective in helping students who are concerned about themselves or a friend. It is the only school-based suicide-prevention curriculum listed by the Substance Abuse and Medical Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) in its National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices that addresses suicide risk and depression. At RJ Grey, the program is scheduled this year to take place in 7th grade team classes during the week of January 21 and January 28, with two teams scheduled per week. For parents and guardians who would like to preview the Signs of Suicide lesson and the video used during the lesson, we are hosting an information session on Tuesday, January 8 at 6pm in the Junior High Library. Joining us that evening will be a staff member from the Riverside Trauma Center. At that session we will provide an overview of the program and answer questions that parents/guardians might have. Families of 7th grade students will be receiving a letter about the SOS lesson and mental health screening tool, along with a consent form that we will need parents and guardians to return by Friday, January 11th. The consent form allows you to select your child’s level of participation in the program. Thank you in advance for your assistance with our continued implementation of this important program.
We have this final week of school before the start of the Winter Break. Here are several reminders and updates:
The next set of parent-teacher conferences is this Tuesday, December 18. That means that all students will again be dismissed at 11:06am. Please be sure to confirm with your child plans and expectations for after school as they will not be able to remain in the school building.
Every year, the PTSO organizes a staff appreciation luncheon that is held during the second set of parent-teacher conferences (which is this Tuesday). Many thanks to the PTSO organizers and the volunteers who contribute to this event with food, drink and supply donations, as well as volunteering to staff the event. For more details and to volunteer/donate, click here to sign up!
We have a full day of school on Friday, December 21, and then the Winter Break begins! If you and your family are beginning your break a bit before that (or a lot before that), please be sure to let our front office know so we can take accurate attendance (email Katy Frey at [email protected]). It would also be important to have your child speak to each of his/her teachers about missed work and assignments.
School resumes after Winter Break on Wednesday, January 2 (translation: don’t send your kids to school on Tuesday, January 1 - we won’t be there! We have our final set of parent-teacher conferences scheduled for the evening of Thursday, January 3. There will be a full day of school on that Thursday of conferences, and then a half-day of school the following day (Friday) where students are dismissed at 11:06am.
Save the Date: The Winter Band Concert is the evening of Wednesday, January 16, and the Winter Chorus and String Ensemble Concert is the evening of Wednesday, January 23.
At the most recent School Committee meeting that was held last Thursday, the Committee approved the school calendar for the 2019-2020 school year (next year). You can view and download the calendar by clicking here.
One of our newest student clubs this year, Creating Change, have been working very hard to prepare for their first event - a Winter Pop Up Shop! Creating Change is a club that focuses on community service through art making and is open to students of all art ability levels. Their hope is to use and develop art-making skills while we make a difference in the R.J. Grey community and beyond.The students in the group (over 25 strong), have created a number of small gifts and crafts that they will be selling at this Pop Up Shop, with proceeds being donated to charitable organizations. The Pop Up Shop will take place this Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday immediately after school, and all items for sale are $5 or less.
We have many students participating in the Ski and Board Club when we return from the Break. Please remember that ski and board gear can not be brought on AB buses in the morning, and that means on Tuesdays Ski and Board Club members are dropped off in the morning with quite a bit of gear. The first session of Ski and Board Club is Tuesday, January 8. For those of you planning to drop off kids and gear in the lower parking lot, it would be immensely helpful if the gear was organized in a way that supported a speedy drop-off. The best case scenario is if you have those ski bags that package everything up all nice and are easy to carry. Believe it or not, some of our 13-year olds throw their equipment all over the trunk before leaving the house (I know, hard to imagine), and then everyone in the parking lot gets to watch them and me get tangled up in boots, poles, and helmets. I’ll do my best to help kids with getting gear out of the trunk, and anything that you can do in advance would be much appreciated. There are also some families who choose to drop off their child’s ski/boarding gear later in the day and bring it to the auditorium where it is stored.
Finally, I want to wish everyone a wonderful Winter Break. As we enter the break, I wanted to offer everyone a link to a story that has quickly risen to one of my favorite pieces this year. It’s a piece by Shirley Wang about the unlikely but very real friendship that developed between former NBA star Charles Barkley and her father Lin, who died this past June. It made my day, and so I wanted to pass it along to all of you with the hopes it adds a bit of joy to your break. Remember that as part of our homework practice there will be no homework or studying assigned to students for this period of time. Please encourage your child to disconnect from school for the duration of the vacation, and focus his/her energies and time on other interests, friends, and family. Safe travels to those of you who might be making a trip out of state.
Have a great week, everyone. Happy holidays and a happy new year.
Cheers,
