1

BetterHelp: Future of Mental Health Scholarship Provider: Betterhelp
Amount: $10,000
# of winners: 10

2

Women’s History Scholarship Provider: Bold.org
Amount: $500
# of winners: 1

3

MagellanTV Women in STEM Scholarship Provider: MagellanTV
Amount: $1,000
# of winners: 5

4

Nitro Pay For College No-Essay Scholarship Provider: Bold.org
Amount: $10,000
# of winners: 1

5

Informed Consumer Scholarship Provider: Bold.org
Amount: $1,000
# of winners: 1

6

CollegeVine Dream School Scholarship Provider: Bold.org
Amount: $1,000
# of winners: 1

7

Cameron Impact Scholarship Provider: Bryan Cameron Education Foundation
Amount: Varies
# of winners: Varies

8

Show your Mettle - Women in STEM Scholarship Provider: Connie Ozmer / Bold.org
Amount: $1,500
# of winners: 1

9

Bold Science Matters Scholarship Provider: Bold.org
Amount: $500
# of winners: 1

10

The Gates Scholarship Provider: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Amount: Varies
# of winners: 300

September 1st at 6:00-7:30 pm in the DCHS Auditorium

All seniors and their parents/guardians are invited to learn more about post-secondary planning.

Sessions included will be: DCSD Graduation requirements, Alternate post-grad pathways (non-college bound), 4-year colleges/university requirements, Common App information, Community Colleges & Junior Colleges, Scholarship opportunities and NCAA requirements, Naviance overview and any general questions you would like answered. There will be an opportunity to attend up to 3 of the breakout sessions.

Noche de planificación para Seniors: 1 de septiembre a las 6:00-7:30 pm en el Auditorio de DCHS
Se invita a todas los estudiantes Seniors y sus padres / tutores a aprender más sobre la planificación postsecundaria.
Las sesiones incluidas serán: requisitos de graduación del DCSD, trayectorias alternativas de posgrado (no con destino a la universidad), requisitos de universidades / colegios de 4 años, información de la aplicación común, colegios comunitarios y colegios universitarios, oportunidades de becas y requisitos de la NCAA, descripción general de Naviance y cualquier preguntas generales que le gustaría responder. Habrá la oportunidad de asistir a hasta 3 de las sesiones grupales.

Harvest Day

(September 24)

Come one, come all to 2022 Harvest Day! Hayrides, romping through our pumpkin patch, honey harvest, food, and fun for the entire family!! Woodhill Small Batch BBQ food truck will be there with yummy BBQ.

We have plenty of Harvest Day Volunteer opportunities! Click HERE to sign up and help!

We are currently seeking Agriculturally oriented vendors to have a booth. If interested, please email Brooke Fox at brooke@thecalf.org.

Nonprofits may exhibit for free.

Know your Counselor & Administrator. Assigned by last name alphabetically.

Counselor - Administrator

A - Bt: Courtney Hay - Mrs.Johnson

Bu - D: Angela Anderson - Mr. Turnbaugh

E - Hak: Amy Wein - Mrs.Dickson

Hal - Kh: Jim Davis - Dr. Veto

Ki-Mh: Cory Monroe - Mr Turnbaugh

Mi-Rh: Amy Boyce - Dr.Veto

Ri-S: Signe DeJong - Mrs. Dickson (Ri-Sc) Mr. Peterson

T-Z: Terri Mathis - Mr.Peterson

We are beyond excited to welcome you back to the building next week! We wanted everyone to be clear on what next week looks like as well as share some resources for you for a great start to the new school year.

Monday, 8/8: Please arrive by 7:30 a.m. The day will end at 2:55 p.m. for all Freshmen, new students of all grades, and foreign exchange students . Buses will be picking up and dropping off on their regular schedule this day. You can bring lunch or get one in the cafeteria and no supplies are needed. This is a day to get acquainted with the building and meet other new students.

Tuesday, 8/9: ALL STUDENTS (9 - 12). This will be the FIRST Day with the full student body. The schedule will be a "All Day" (periods 1 - 8) where students attend all 8 classes with each class being about 45 minutes long. 1st period starts at 7:38 am and the last period ends at 2:55 pm. Please arrive by 7:30 a.m. in order to be on time to your 1st period class. The schedule for today will be:

• Period 0 - 6:40 - 7:35 (IB Music only)

• Perod 1 - 7:38 - 8:22

• Period HR - 8:29 - 9:12 (meet in HRs and then go to Welcome assembly)

• Period 5 - 9:19 - 10:12 (w/ DCTV)

• Period 7 - 10:19 - 11:02

• Period 2 - 11:09 - 12:23

• To determine which lunch you have today, look at your period 2 class.

• AG, Business, Computers, FaCS, Math, Performing Arts, Science, Vocational Tech classes:

• A lunch - 11:09 - 11:40; class 11:40 - 12:23

• Art, ELD, English, ISS, PE, Social Studies, Star Lab, World Language classes:

• B class - 11:09 - 11:52; lunch 11:52 - 12:23

• If you are not sure, we will be in the hallways to help direct you

• Period 4 - 12:30 - 1:16

• Period 6 - 1:23 - 2:05

Wednesday, 8/10: ALL STUDENTS. This will be an ODD day (periods 1, HR, 5, 7).

Thursday, 8/11: ALL STUDENTS. This will be a “All Day” schedule due to a conflict with our student picture photographer. Students in 10th and 11th grade will be escorted by their English teachers to have their picture taken during the day. Seniors will receive their ID with last year’s picture in the next week or two. New students who did not attend orientation on Monday, 8/8, will need to get their picture taken as well. The schedule for today will be:

• Period 0 - 6:40 - 7:35 (IB Music only)

• Perod 1 - 7:38 - 8:22

• Period HR - 8:29 - 9:12

• Period 5 - 9:19 - 10:12 (w/ DCTV)

• Period 7 - 10:19 - 11:02

• Period 2 - 11:09 - 12:23

• To determine which lunch you have today, look at your period 2 class.

• AG, Business, Computers, FaCS, Math, Performing Arts, Science, Vocational Tech classes:

• A lunch - 11:09 - 11:40; class 11:40 - 12:23

• Art, ELD, English, ISS, PE, Social Studies, Star Lab, World Language classes:

• B class - 11:09 - 11:52; lunch 11:52 - 12:23

• If you are not sure, we will be in the hallways to help direct you

• Period 4 - 12:30 - 1:16

• Period 6 - 1:23 - 2:05

• Period 8 - 2:12 - 2:55

Friday, 8/12: ALL STUDENTS. This will be an EVEN day (periods 2, 4, 6, 8).

new three-digit number for mental health emergencies will go live in Colorado and the rest of the nation Saturday, connecting people to crisis counselors any time of day or night.

The new number, 988, is the mental health version of 911.

In Colorado, calls to 988 will get routed to the call center for the state’s network of walk-in crisis centers, overnight stabilization facilities and mobile crisis units. But this works only when the caller has a Colorado area code, meaning that thousands of people living in Colorado who have area codes from other states will not reach Colorado Crisis Services.

Colorado residents using cell phones with Illinois or Texas area codes would get routed to services in those states instead, for example.

It’s a problem that state and federal officials are still working to fix.

The state’s new Behavioral Health Administration, which oversees the crisis services network, “recognizes that many people in Colorado do not have a phone number with a Colorado area code” and suggested that people without an in-state area code instead dial Colorado’s crisis line, 1-844-493-8255. Another option is to text TALK to 38255.

“We want to ensure a safe, immediate connection to local resources and support,” the administration said in an email. “While 988 is an innovative service that should positively impact caller experiences across the country, the full vision of a transformed crisis care system with 988 will not be built overnight. Transformation of this scale will take time.”

Colorado officials are currently in talks with the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Federal Communications Commission to figure out how to fix the issue, which is also a problem in other states that are trying to rout 988 calls to their own crisis service centers.

If a person is routed to a state where they don’t live, a counselor in that state is likely to ask the caller to hang up and instead dial services in their area. If it’s an emergency, the counselor can make the connections and send help.

The new number, approved by Congress in 2020, is for people who are having thoughts of suicide, are in emotional distress, or who are in a substance abuse crisis. The hotline, called the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, also has a chat option, available online.

Colorado has applied for $2.4 million in federal coronavirus relief aid to help handle the expected influx of mental health calls with the launching of 988. In addition, the state legislature passed a law last year allowing a surcharge on phone bills to fund the crisis hotline, including for public messaging about the new number and response to crisis calls. The surcharge was set to take effect Jan. 1 and is expected to generate $12 million next year.

The law gave state behavioral health officials approval to hire three new employees to oversee the program, collect and report data, and coordinate public messaging about 988

REMEMBER SENIORS YOU NEED 20 SERVICES HOURS TO GRADUATE.

I will be posting and updating the Newsletter with opportunities constantly.

We will be hosting our Back to School Bash on August 17th, from 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Please come to celebrate the start to a new school year, see the amazing renovations that have taken place over the summer, connect with friends, get to know your new teachers, take a tour of the school, and enjoy a delicious dinner from local food trucks while listening to live music from our very own Huskie staff members. A night not to be missed. Bring the whole family!

School supply lists are shared in class by each teacher during the first week of school. There is not a list posted in advance as each teacher has their own requirements based on the subject they are teaching. Students will receive information on needed materials during the first week of classes.

If you are interested in getting some service hours helping with concessions, ticketing, set up, or breakdown, the Band Boosters would love to have your help and reward you with service hours. The Douglas County Marching Invitational is a huge event with over 20 schools from all over the West coming to compete. We need as many volunteers to help as possible, so you can earn up to 8 hours a day! Times are October 7-9 from 8AM until curfew. Reach out via email to the Boosters president, Mary Beth Childs at boosterpresidentdchs@gmail.com to volunteer or get more details.

Pictures will be taken on Monday August 8th with Freshman during orientation. Sophomores and Juniors will take pictures on Thursday 8/11, during English class. Seniors (unless you are a NEW Senior) will use their junior picture taken from last year. Pictures will be used for ID cards and Yearbooks (except seniors and yearbook pics). If your student is not able to attend, then there will be a Make-Up Day on August 22, and a Retake Day on September 16. At this time, all ID cards will be delivered to classrooms the following week. We are still working with Lifetouch on some details so stay tuned to future communication.

For the past two years, the USDA provided school waivers that provided free meals to students. Now there's a return to paid meals. DCSD encourages everyone to apply to see if they qualify,https://myschoolapps.com/Application

Please ensure an optional Activity Fee is paid in full via My School Bucks on Express Check-In before photo ID’s are printed on picture day. You can still add that fee in, even if you’ve completed the Express Check In process.

Please click here for information on parking passes.

Check out the Foundation for Douglas County Schools' School Supply Drive Pick-Up Dates & Locations:

Sat. July 30, Acres Green Elementary 9 - 11 am 13524 Acres Green Drive, Littleton

Mon. August 1, South Ridge Elementary 5 - 7 pm 1100 South Street, Castle Rock

or

COME TO THE COUNSELING OFFICE

• Students who are eligible for transportation are required to scan their SMART tag bus pass on and off the bus each time they ride. Eligibility information can be found at the DCSD bus route information page

• If you do not have a bus pass and are eligible for transportation services, passes can be requested at engaged.dcsdk12.org under the "Manage Transportation" link. If you do not see a link under your student's profile or need to request a replacement card reach out to us via Let's Talk

• DO NOT PUNCH HOLES IN THE BUS PASS. You can place the bus pass in a clear plastic sleeve attached to a lanyard if needed. If a card is damaged or lost, a replacement bus pass can be requested at engaged.dcsdk12.org.

• Only students that are eligible for transportation can ride the bus. We are unable to accommodate one day bus passes for students to ride home with other students on the bus

• Students who receive specialized transportation services do not need to request a SMART tag bus pass. Your student's card will be distributed to their bus driver directly

• Bus passes for general education students will be distributed to students by their bus driver after an application has been submitted at engaged.dcsdk12.org. Students may ride in the interim while waiting for their bus pass

• Transportation fees are approved by the Board of Education. Rides are $1.00 each way per student. These charges will be billed on a quarterly basis to your student's MySchoolBucks account. Students who receive specialized transportation services or qualify for the free or reduced lunch program will have their fees waived

https://www.dcsdk12.org/about/our_district/departments/transportation/bus_pass___s_m_a_r_t_tag_

Over 3,300 Colorado youth have received free therapy sessions funded by the state in the last nine months through a program aimed at addressing the youth mental health crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

That number is expected to grow with a new school year and extended program funding.

I Matter, which is administered through the Behavioral Health Administration, is a statewide program that connects youth and adolescents with up to six free counseling sessions. It was created through a 2021 bill that appropriated an initial $9 million from the state general fund for its implementation and was extended during this year’s legislative session with another $6 million appropriation from the state’s American Rescue Plan Act funds.

“The legislation that funds I Matter is for rapid response to the youth mental health crisis. I think we’ve definitely done that,” said Charlotte Whitney, BHA’s interim deputy communications director. “We’ve really set up low-barrier access to care, and that was the intent. That to me is showing success.”

Participants begin I Matter by taking an online survey that acts as a mental health screening, with children younger than 12 years old taking it with their parents. The survey asks questions about their symptoms, home and family environment and substance use. If the survey concludes they are good candidates for counseling, they can register and connect with any of over 180 providers for an appointment.

That simple survey approach for registration is part of a “low barrier” entry model that providers think is important. Often, a teacher or school counselor will direct a student to the program.

“It’s a great need. I see parents who are struggling with trying to find a simple entry into counseling for their child without being overwhelmed,” said Tim Swanson, a licensed clinical social worker from Colorado Springs who is an I Matter provider. Cutting out the need for a traditional intake session and paperwork allows him to “get to the meat” of why a child scheduled an appointment with him.

Swanson said he has seen between 30 and 40 clients through I Matter, often working with children younger than 12 years old . Some have been as young as 7. He estimates a near even split between telehealth and in-person appointments.

About 15% of youth in Colorado reported at least one major depressive episode in the past year, up from 14% in 2021, according to data from Mental Health America. About 39% of youth in Colorado with a major depressive episode reported not receiving any mental health services in 2022. Overall, Colorado ranked 13th for its prevalence of youth mental illness and access to care. Nationally, over one-third of high school students reported experiencing poor mental health during the pandemic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Those are the types of statistics I Matter aims to improve.

Reaching youth across the state

Since its start in October 2021, 3,379 children from 55 counties have received at least one free therapy session through the program, according to data from Colorado Behavioral Health Administration. A sizable number of them return for more care: Over 2,500 participated in a second session. In total, there have been nearly 11,000 sessions so far. The average cost to the state per session is $144.

Children of all age groups have sought help through I Matter, with about 1,200 children younger than 12 years old served, 950 users between the ages of 12 and 14 served and another 1,200 users between the ages of 15 and 18 served. The program has served about 1,900 girls, about 1,300 boys and 178 children who identify as non-binary.

The program saw modest uptake in its first few months and spiked with signups in spring of this year, with over 500 children seeking first appointments in March, April and May. It is mostly used in the state’s population center along the Front Range. Jefferson County has had 472 children use the program, El Paso County has had 410 and Arapahoe County has had 379.

One unique aspect to I Matter is its inclusion of care navigators who can help families connect to other needed resources and services. They can help an adolescent find care outside of the I Matter structure and touch base with any adolescents on a waitlist or who have not yet signed up for a counseling appointment.

“If you’re reaching out to I Matter, let’s assume you’re having some presenting issues that are causing you concern. You’re depressed, you’re anxious, you’re sad, you’re isolated. It’s nice to have a support system like (the care navigators) when you’re already feeling low-resourced,” Whitney said.

Swanson said that many of the clients he sees through the program are “high functioning” children who are struggling with anxiety or depression. The disruption to in-person learning caused by the pandemic, combined with potential economic stressors at home as caregivers work to regain stability, creates a complex situation.

“It just complicates it so much for these youngsters,” he said. “Having to go back to school — they didn’t do any testing for two years or one year or whatever. That’s the biggest thing I’ve seen towards the end of this school year, is the anxiety of testing and moving on to the next grade level. It was very stressful for all of them without exception.”

I Matter has been extended until at least next June and could continue until June 2024 depending on funding. That will give the program an opportunity to serve more youth and evolve in how it delivers services.

“I think we are really building out a solid behavioral health system in Colorado,” Whitney said. “When you can provide a high access, low barrier mental health resource for youth and provide them a positive experience at such a young age, that will encourage them to use mental health support throughout their lifetime. We’re learning a lot from this.”