Lost & Found

We have seven tables full of lost and found items at Sioux Trail.  I'm hoping that by posting the video families will see and claim their items.  The goal is to have an empty lost and found on Friday, May 27, 2011.  Please check out the video, ask your child to check lost and found and claim these items!  Thank you.

New partnership will address mental health needs of students, families

For several years, District 191 has collaborated with 360 Communities to have their employees, family support workers, in our schools assisting families so that students can be more successful.

Recently, the school district was notified recently by 360 Communities that the district's contribution for the Family Support Worker (FSW) program would increase by 30 percent for the 2011-12 school year.

When faced with the option of increasing budget allocations for the FSW program or accepting a lower level of service, district administrators and building principals took the opportunity to evaluate other options to address current mental health needs of students and their families.

What has developed is a potential partnership with the Storefront Group, a local non-profit mental health care provider, which would result in having half-time licensed mental health counselors in each of the district's 10 elementary schools. A partnership with Storefront Group is also being discussed for the secondary schools.

The counselors would become part of each school community, respond to pressing mental health needs, proactively support student success, and be readily available in case of a crisis.

Storefront Group, with its licensed professional health care providers, has the ability to bill third parties (private health insurance and medical assistance). This makes the proposed level of services possible while also lowering the cost to the district.

The collaboration with 360 Communities and its Family Support Worker program has provided many benefits. However, by providing licensed mental health care professionals at reduced costs to the district, this new partnership with the Storefront Group will better address the current needs of students, families and schools.

More on bullying

I saw this graphic and I wanted to share it.  I think it is a good thing that Minnesota isn't called out on the map, but bullying is still a problem that we work with.  Bulling is something we work hard to prevent at Sioux Trail and all partners play part in eliminating bullying. 

Click here to see the full-sized image.

The Bully Project

This movie was a part of the Tribeca Film Festival and I recently learned of it from a fellow blogger.  Bullying is something educators work hard to prevent and then deal with if preventative efforts fail. This is a very difficult issue and the video (at least the trailer) seems to capture this.

The trailer of the movie is very moving and I look forward to seeing the entire movie.  There is more information at: http://www.thebullyproject.com/index.html . If you have concerns about bullying at Sioux Trail Elementary School please contact me directly.