STC Newsletter

The new school year is off to a great start and everyone is settling in to their schedules. This school year may find the family advocate at any building or community event any day of the week. My schedule is somewhat flexible to allow me to meet with parents and appear at community events. I will continue to teach Character Ed lessons for Elementary and meet with students one on one as needed. My schedule each day will begin at the VH Jr/Sr High to meet student needs there before the bell rings. The rest of the week will primarily be:

• Monday at Blue Rapids
• Tuesday at Waterville (third Tuesday is Harvesters)
• Wednesday at VH and out and about in our community
• Thursday AM in Waterville/PM in Blue Rapids
• Friday at VH

Meet the Family Advocate, Jayne Whitson by appointment. She is available to help students and families succeed with resources, referrals and donated items to help during a family trauma, crisis or setback.

The best way to reach the family advocate is via cell, 612-202-7366.

Every September 10, is World Suicide Prevention Day. Since 2003, it has been an awareness day providing worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides, with various activities around the world to increase awareness and supporting others and spreading hope. September is Suicide prevention awareness month.

Suicide affects MILLIONS every year, but many suffer in silence. That's why this month is dedicated to recognizing the warning signs, encouraging open conversations about mental health and connecting people to resources and treatment. Each of us can make a difference by standing up, using our voices , face challenges, and support friends and loved ones who may be struggling. YOUR VOICE MATTERS! And it can save a life. If you or someone you know needs help, even if you need help dealing with a friend who is struggling, call, text or chat #988.

Warning signs for adults

Warning signs for youth

The Schools That Care Family Advocate takes some scheduled time each week to visit elementary classrooms and teach valuable lessons that help develop positive character, build relationships and teach coping skills to our students. "Take A Minute" is the theme for this year's lessons that will include building a toolkit of resources to help students learn ways to self-regulate, calm down, refocus and get ready to learn! Talk to your students about what "take a minute" means to them and which tools and coping skills are working for them! The two most effective ways to change their minds to focus or transition to a new lesson or task is breathing exercises and movement exercises! The best part is....it only take a minute! Try an impromptu dance party, telling a joke or riddle, breathe deeply 5-10 times, sing a song, run in place....just to mention a few things you can practice at home too!

In September, our focus for building character will be on RESPECT. Respecting ones self is important to self love and self care. Without those, it can be difficult to care or respect others. It would be like giving from an empty cup. The "Golden Rule" is a great place to start because we have an inherent desire to be treated well and liked by others.

Please click on and download the Character Sheet below to practice respect at home with your family.

Online or Live in person, you can increase your giving to Schools That Care during the Circle of Giving event in September! Donors are encouraged to give during this time because gifts of $25 or more can be matched 50% with generous funds from the Patterson Family Foundation. Schools That Care uses donated funds to purchase school supplies, hygiene supplies and other items when family needs require more than what donated items can provide. Donate online at midnight Sept. 13 through 11:59pm Sept. 15. OR join us for lunch at 11:30am Sept. 15, at the BR Community Center, the live event takes place 9am-3pm. Thank you for your support!

If you are interested in making a difference in the life of a child, Big Brothers and Big Sisters offers volunteers an opportunity to match with a student at Waterville Elementary. It is an opportunity for a student to be matched with and meet with a safe adult mentor in a familiar place each week. Have lunch at Waterville Elementary or meet with them after school at Colts Round Up! There may be opportunities for community matches this year or to grow into a hybrid match and take your little to others places and activities!

What are you waiting for? Right now there are 4 fantastic matches in our local program and there is an opportunity to grow this program up to 10 matches to provide more primary grade school students with a one to one mentor to make an impact on not only a child's life and yours, but in our community. Contributing to the success of all citizens is our responsibility. It could have a ripple effect that lasts for generations. The application process is thorough and the matching process can take up to a month or longer as you will complete online training, a background check and phone interviews are completed with you, with parents, and the student to make it a perfect match! If you'd like to learn more about this volunteer opportunity please talk to our Family Advocate, Jayne Whitson, she will connect you with Valley Heights' Big Brothers Big Sisters Match Specialist. Now is the best time to apply so that you can begin meeting with your match at the beginning of next school year! Click here to become a BIG. Find out more about his program or how to become a Big at the October 9th Rotary meeting at the Waterville Elementary School, starting with lunch at noon.

If your child could benefit from a mentor in this program, click here to sign them up to become a "little" and get matched with a volunteer Big Brother or Big Sister!

Click here to become a BIG.

Click here to enroll your youth.

If you want to learn more about engaging with your child about their safe activities in the virtual world they are participating in, here's your chance to learn more for FREE! This training will provide you with resources and information from The National Center for Missing and Endangered Children. You will receive tip sheets and discussion guides as well as info on how to research the apps and platforms your kids may be using. This FREE webinar is presented by trainers from Project Harmony and is brought to you FREE with the generous support of the John K. and Lynn D Boyer Family Foundation.

Register online here. Select from these dates: September 11, October and Dec. 11.

If you have questions, please email, training@projectharmony.com or call, 513-301-5079.

Project Harmony is based in Omaha, NE, and serves with community professionals and advocates to protect and support children and families who have experienced trauma. Check out their website to learn more.

Thank you so much to all who came out to VH Mustang Spirit Night to welcome the Mustang Family back to school. It is my favorite night of the whole year! Seeing students and families and staff and coaches and fans....it's celebrating the beginning of another school year with our Mustang Family! I love purple and I love when everyone wears purple! I love purple tattoos and hair and nails! I love dunk tanks, games and volleyball and KNDY! I love pep rallies and the MUSTANGS! I love that our community supports our schools and families! I love celebrating our Mustang Family! VH Journalism is sharing pictures from the photo booth here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MrPzgw4DSZheHm81te7EGnz7TH9Cz8T_?usp=sharing&fbclid=IwY2xjawMcWENleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE0RzZ2MnVqQld4Ymh4VlA4AR4I2RPw3oADWkoVLHaWdKVV82Vft1KFzdsJ0QWfm13J2ElnSeJG-bfMizgpag_aem_GIMwRoF_koqkFJtSO0pS9g

If you missed hearing these seniors interviewing others at Mustang Spirit Night on KNDY radio, click now to listen below. #mustangfamily #everyfanamustang

Blessing boxes are available in both Waterville and Blue Rapids. Give what you can and take what you need. In Waterville the Blessing Box is located on Commercial Street near the Citizens State Bank. The Blessing Box in Blue Rapids is located in Riverside Park near the playground by the recycling container.