Student Wellness and Prevention November Newsletter
November 2017
Dear Larkspur Families,
As we work towards promoting student wellness in all areas, we want to ensure that every student in Douglas County knows what healthy relationships look like. Children and teens are like sponges and often strive to be mirror images of what is present in the media, reality T.V. and occasionally in unhealthy adults around them. They may witness disagreements between parents, see older siblings model poor choices, or immerse themselves with what Hollywood portrays as truth. Regardless of the circumstances, when youth are not afforded many opportunities to witness healthy relationships, they are more likely to continue negative patterns of behavior. However, when children and teens know and understand what healthy relationships look like, they’re likely to break that cycle that may otherwise lead towards bullying, school violence, substance abuse, and suicide.
Based on students’ development levels, we will explore this topic this month with our students:
Elementary school students may explore what a healthy relationship looks like by discussing How to be a Good Friend.
Middle and High school students may explore setting limits and how teen dating violence can present itself.
We encourage you to support our efforts by discussing this month’s topic of Healthy Relationships with your student. Check us out next month when we introduce the topic of: Building Resiliency & Awareness Around Risky Behavior.
Remember that if your child shares thoughts or behaviors that concern you there are many resources available to you at your student’s school (counselor, mental health provider, teacher) and in the community. Your child’s safety is of the utmost importance, and we at LES will do all we can to support every student’s well-being. Please consider the resources offered on the PREVENTION and SCHOOL CULTURE (https://www.dcsdk12.org/prevention-and-school-culture) website if you want to learn more about this topic.
In Partnership,
The LES Anti-bullying/Wellness/Prevention Team
