Parent Resources

In order for students to succeed academically, their physical and emotional needs must be met.

At Chickamauga City Schools, we want to educate families about available resources in our area.

Physical Needs - local resources, how to sign up for Free & Reduced Lunch

Emotional Needs - therapy options

Academic Needs - tutoring options, public library information, Important Dates

Research demonstrates that academic achievement improves in schools where students are physically healthy and feel physically safe. This includes a healthy school nutrition environment that provides students with nutritious and appealing foods and beverages.

To ensure that our students are getting the nutrition they need, we want to promote the Free & Reduced Lunch option.

Our hope is that we can help families feel that they can apply online to increase confidentiality. In addition, when students go through the lunch line, all students enter their lunch number so know one knows who has Free & Reduced Lunch. If you have questions, please contact our nutrition department at 706-382-3100 x4008.

Food is expensive. Our goal is to educate families on resources in our area to help with food insecurity. The newsletter below lists several food pantries in our area.

Visit this website to help locate free and low cost health care in the Chattanooga area:

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "mental health is a state of well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn and work well, and contribute to their community."

Chickamauga City Schools is committed to supporting the well-being of our students and believes supporting mental health is an important part of overall student health. We partnered with Cartwheel to provide teletherapy, family check-ins and guidance, and psychiatric care - all with licensed clinicians and no waitlists.

Whether your child is struggling with anxiety, having a hard time staying focuses, or just needs someone to talk to, Cartwheel is here to help. Learn more about Cartwheel and what common signs to look for to determine if your child might benefit from mental health support here.

Join a free webinar through Cartwheel - they are offered from 12-1 ET, but once registered you can replay the session anytime. The dates and titles of the webinars are below:

March 11 - Navigating the Tough Talks: Strategies for Talking to Teens about Substance Use

April 15 - 5 Keys to Parenting a Child with ADHD

May 12 - Learning How to Recognize and Treat Youth with OCD and Related Disorders

June 4 - Supporting Boys: Mental Health Strategies for Young Men

Chickamauga City Schools has also partnered with Bridge Health through the APEX program. This is an intensive, behaviorally oriented, short-term, in-school treatment service that serves children and families experiencing significant behavioral, relational, and other mental health challenges. By helping parents and children develop healthier relationships and positive communication skills, the Bridge staff hope to create nurturing family settings where all members can thrive. Services are free to families with Medicaid based insurance. For more information, visit Bridge Health or contact the guidance office or school social worker.

Please visit glschools.org and click on "Parents." Scroll down to the Mental Health Resources for additional information.

Parents hear it all the time: it's important to read to your kids. It makes sense that being read to would help kids learn to read themselves, and it's true that being read to supports that crucial learning process. Research has found that young children whose parents read to them daily have been exposed to at least 290,000 more words by the time they enter kindergarten than kids who aren't read to regularly. We are grateful for our wonderful libraries at our schools and in our community!

Our Chickamauga Public Library will continue their FREE tutoring program this school year. You can click the link below to sign up for a one hour tutoring session. You can choose your child's tutor along with the time. All sessions are held at the public library (right across the street from GLHS). Please take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. Tutoring is for grades K-12.

If you have questions about any of the content, please contact the school social worker:

Stephanie Fitzpatrick

stephanie.fitzpatrick@glschools.org

706-382-3100 x 3031