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The breezes are warming up, and we are beginning to plant our gardens. Many of us think of Spring as a beginning and renewal. However, others have a more difficult time when the temperatures rise. Research on the seasonal effects of suicide rates suggests that the prevalence of suicide is greatest during the late spring and early summer months, despite the common belief that suicide rates peak during the cold and dark months of the winter season.
May is Mental Health Month, and this is a topic that we take very seriously, proactively building suicide prevention into our training and everyday practices. All staff members in the school have been trained in suicide prevention gatekeeper training, helping to support students at-risk. In the first semester, the South mental health team spent time with Freshmen in their Social Studies classes, discussing mental health and wellness and reminding them about the warning signs of suicide and prevention tools to support our school community. Click Here for a good info-graphic for reference so that you can be our partners in prevention from home. Also, here are important resources for you to have available:
● National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Dial 988
The Lifeline is a 24-hour toll-free phone line for people in suicidal crisis or
emotional distress. An online chat option is available at 988lifeline.org
If you or your student have any concerns or would like to talk through ideas on this subject, we are here to support you.
● National Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741
Every texter is connected with a Crisis Counselor, a real-life human being trained to bring texters from a hot moment to a cool calm through active listening and collaborative problem-solving. www.crisistextline.org
Senior Parents
Remember that as your student turns 18, they are no longer a minor; your child is an adult in the eyes of the law. This also means your legal right to access their protected medical, financial, and academic records comes to an abrupt halt, regardless of whether they are still in high school or covered by your health insurance plan. Parents who wish to continue providing support in case of emergency should take action, especially if they are sending a child off to college. Here is a good site to offer more information.
As college-bound students and families begin to make their final college decisions, please ask your student to complete their graduation survey in Naviance, which will direct us on where to send the student's final transcripts. All graduating seniors who will enter college in the fall of 2024 must send their final transcript to their college since the colleges require final proof of graduation and want to see final grades. Colleges reserve the right to rescind offers of admission if they do not like what they see on final transcripts, so we ask you to help us keep your seniors focused on doing their best in this last lap of high school. See weekly e*blasts for scholarship opportunities, summer programs, and helpful info.
Junior Parents
Juniors who took the SAT at South in April will receive an email with instructions on checking their scores online. This is a college entrance reportable score for applications next fall. Counselors have been meeting with students monthly to discuss the college admissions process.
Junior college ‘to-do’ for spring
● Work on developing a list of colleges or trade schools to visit.
● Consider creating a Common App account.
● IF a college you are applying to requires a letter of recommendation, consider asking a teacher in the spring after AP testing. Remember to ask in person, followed up by an electronic request in Naviance. Always be sure to send a handwritten thank-you note to the teacher.
All Students
Summer School is an opportunity to earn credit for classes or replace a low grade. Many core academic courses are available. Reach out to your student’s counselor if you would like to explore options.
We are almost there! Summer is a fantastic opportunity to relax, recharge, enrich, and experience. Many summer programs are available to students on college campuses, from community colleges to elite universities. We have included many here, but even a basic Google search will return massive results. Go. See. Do. And have a lovely summer!
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