You likely heard the tragic news of a student death last week at Odle Middle School. We want to bring your attention to ways you can help prevent future tragedy.
Much of our family engagement work includes helping families benefit from the latest science on raising strong, resilient young adults.
Our discussions around helping students—not only focusing on college entry—are key to managing teen stress and anxiety.
Our students must learn to Pause, Notice, Name & Navigate so that they keep all their wits about them as they face challenges every day.
Learn more about all this work in our Principal’s Family Guide to Newport.
We cared for Newport
This week, as students felt the impact of the loss of our Odle student, we set aside time and resources to support them:
- We met with multiple Newport students who wanted to talk about their distress. They had no personal connection with the student who died, but students felt permission to acknowledge their pain.
- Several students mentioned how supportive it was that teachers gave them options for how to spend class time on Monday.
- One student said it was very powerful when his teacher told the class that he cared for them; that they matter as individuals and that they are more than academics.
Our work continues
- We must continue taking a moment to tell students that they matter.
- Please encourage students to visit their counselor if they need to talk or just need a space to be.
Always know that it’s important to share feelings and that there’s support for you to do so. If you or your student have immediate needs or concerns for the wellbeing of others, please use these resources:
- 24-hr Suicide Lifeline: 800-273-8255
- 24-hr Crisis Chat: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/
- 24-hr Crisis Line: Text ‘HOME’ to 741741
- 24-hr Crisis Line for students of color: Text ‘STEVE’ to 741741
At Newport we teach “Signs of Suicide” as a lesson. More information is available: https://sossignsofsuicide.org/parent. You will learn that suicide is very complicated, that it’s important to talk about, and that no one single thing causes suicide.