October was first declared as National Bullying Prevention Month in 2006. Since then, October has been a time to acknowledge that bullying has devastating effects on children and families such as school avoidance, loss of self-esteem, increased anxiety, and depression. Bullying can occur in multiple ways. It can be verbal, physical, through social exclusion, or via digital sources like email, texts, or social media. Unlike mutual teasing or fighting, bullying occurs when one person or a group of people is perceived as being more powerful than another and takes advantage of that power through repeated physical assaults, threats of harm, intimidation, or by purposefully excluding a person from a valued social group. Being bullied can severely affect the person’s self-image, social interactions, and school performance and can lead to mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and substance use, and even suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

In keeping with National Bullying Prevention Month, to raise awareness of bullying prevention, we invite both John C French and Hunt Elementary students to participate in a poster contest that promotes kindness, acceptance, and inclusion at our school and in our community. We all have a hand in creating schools where our students feel safe and cared for by increasing understanding, kindness and empathy for each other. John C French students will work on their posters during art class, while Hunt students will work on their posters at home.

The deadline for entering the poster contest is 8 AM on Wednesday, October 16th. Winning posters will be selected from each grade level at JCF and 2nd/3rd and 4th/5th grades at Hunt. Great prizes will be awarded to those selected. Let's see our young Gobblers excel in their artwork, creativity and their anti-bullying messages! Encourage your student to participate. Good luck!

Unity Day is an annual event occurring during National Bullying Prevention Month in October that promotes joining together to create healthier communities through kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. It was started by PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center in 2011 and is now celebrated around the world.

Students at John C French and Hunt Elementary schools are encouraged to wear orange to celebrate Unity Day on Wednesday, October 16th. Why the color orange? As Unity Day is held during October, orange is a color commonly identified with the month and the autumn season. It is also a color that is

associated with safety and visibility. It is a color described as warm and inviting, and its vibrancy makes an impactful statement.

Red Ribbon Week highlights the importance of living a drug-free life. It presents an opportunity for parents, educators, and communities to reinforce the drug-free messages they share with their children throughout the year. During Red Ribbon Week, youth and adults around the nation pledge to increase their knowledge by learning more about the destructive effects of drug abuse, including prescription drug misuse, and renew their commitment to live a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.

Students at John C French and Hunt Elementary will celebrate Red Ribbon Week October 21-25 with dress up days. The dress up days are as follows: Monday, 21st - Dress up as your favorite star or movie character; Tuesday, 22nd - Wear Camo Day; Wednesday, 23rd - Wear your favorite team jersey or shirt; Thursday, 24th - Wear your pajamas; and Friday, 25th - Wear all green.

TCHATT provides telemedicine or telehealth programs to school districts to help identify and assess the behavioral health needs of children and adolescents and provide access to mental health services. Cuero ISD is proud to be part of this program that helps students get access to mental health treatment and resources. This program is free for students and is available throughout the year, even in the summer. If you would like more information about TCHATT, you can visit their website https://tcmhcc.utsystem.edu/tchatt/ or contact Kathy Scott at kfscott@cueroisd.org.

Ruby Rodriguez, M.Ed. ~ Director of Special Programs

Lacy Timpone, M.Ed., LPC ~ School Climate Specialist

Courtney Kalinowski, M.S., LPC ~ School Climate Specialist

Kathy Scott, LMSW ~ School Climate Specialist

Website: https://www.cueroisd.org/
Location: 960 E Broadway St, Cuero, TX, USA
Phone: 361-275-1900
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cueroisd