STC Newsletter
May 2025
As the school year comes to a close, my schedule will remain the same until school is out on May 22. During the summer months when you see me in the community with the "care bus", please stop in to say hello, help spread the word to others, make a referral, donation or find out what our needs are.
Meet the Family Advocate, Jayne Whitson by appointment during the summer. 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.
Taking care of your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Neglecting your mental health can have a significant impact on your overall well-being and physical health too. Your mental health influences learning, how you think, act and feel about life's challenges, your relationships and achieving your full potential.
Your sense of purpose and ability to cope with stress helps you navigate challenges, make good decisions, form relevant and healthy relationships, and fosters self worth and self confidence. While poor mental health leads to weakened immune systems, poor decisions, sleep quality, low energy levels and higher risks for diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
Self care and coping skills helps manage stress, builds resilience during challenges and contributes to over all well being, success and happiness. Try these self care tips. or make a self care jar for you, your family or your classroom to begin normalizing self care practices.
Schools That Care invites you to join others to "be seen in green". Wear Green on May 16 to help build a community that supports each other who are caring for their mental health concerns and those they love.
If you or someone you know needs mental health care, you can call, text or chat #988 anytime.
Waterville Elementary Character Education lessons have been focusing on Hope and we will finish out the school year with a review of this year's lessons. How are you modeling hope for kids at home, at school and in our community? We have had conversations about being hopeful, positive and wishing for success! Hope is symbolized with a sunflower because sunflowers grow strong seeking the light. See the sunflowers we made below. Hope gives us the best opportunities for success! Click here to download the Parent's Flyer to help you build hope with your family or classroom.
Schools That Care helps provide back to school supplies for students at Valley Heights grades 7-12 with donated items. Last year, Schools That Care provided supplies for 75 Jr/Sr high students before school started and continued to provide miscellaneous supplies throughout the year. Thank you to Yungeberg Drug for providing supplies for our grade school students!
When school is out later this month, Schools That Care begins accepting donations for school supplies for the next school year. There are lots of ways to help!
- If your student purchases new supplies each year, but has items left from last year that are still in good condition i.e. back packs, pencil bags, scissors, 3 ring binders; please consider donating them for others to use.
- Purchase school supplies on sale this summer to donate. Some items are specific to class needs, but these items are highly needed: large study backpacks, 3 ring binders (size 1", 1.5" or 3"), filler paper, 1-subject spiral notebooks, comp notebooks and boxes of tissues.
- Ezzy-Peezy! Follow this link to our AMAZON WISH LIST and ship items directly to Schools That Care at Valley Heights by July 20 please.
- Schools That Care accepts cash donations to purchase school supplies. Click here to donate on-line.
Thank you for your support!
Interested in making a difference on the life of a child? There's no better way than volunteering to be a "BIG"! Adults 18 and older can apply to participate in the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentorship opportunity at our Waterville Grade School. Big Brothers Big Sisters provides volunteers training and support to mentor students.
No pressure! Just plan to spend 20-40 minutes each week with your matched "little" to offer support and build a lasting friendship. You could plan to have lunch, or meet after school during Colts Round Up or at other times of the school day arranged with their teacher. Consistency is key to building a lasting relationship. When "life happens"- if something comes up and you can't make it, just call the school to leave a message for your little. Meeting at school is a safe and familiar place especially for young students and relieves anxiety for parents too. There are many opportunities to learn, discover and share with a "little" at Waterville grade school: library, playground, gym, colts closet, breakfast, lunch, and you are welcome to bring your own craft, game, book or activity to share.
Big Brothers Big Sisters offers kids an opportunity to learn and grow from another safe and important adult in their life and that makes a difference in many ways. It helps students choose to stay in school, go to college, increases their income potential, in short, it helps them reach their full potential even from such a young age. Learn more here.
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 and provide more grade school students with a one to one mentor to make an impact on not only a child's life, but in our community. It could have a ripple effect that lasts for generations. BIG THANKS! to our volunteer BIGS who are already making a difference- John Denton, Karl Prinslow, Cindy Stoudt and Jayne Whitson.
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 done with you, with parents, and the student. If you'd like to learn more about this volunteer opportunity please talk to our Family Advocate, Jayne Whitson, she will connect you with VH's 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.
