Bluejay Bulletin

November 2024

Greetings Parents,

As we prepare for the second quarter of the school year, I want to say Thank You, for working with us to get through first quarter. We do understand that many challenges can arise with the start of each new school year and your patience, support and understanding are greatly appreciated.

With that being said, we look forward to diving deeper into the learning process as the year progresses. Thus far your children have worked diligently to navigate their new classes, participated in new clubs, sports or activities, and made connections with their teachers and classmates. We are confident that all of these things will add to the wholeness of their school experience.

In the event that your child experiences trials or tribulations, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. If it is classroom specific, please contact your child’s teachers first. If there are other concerns, please contact our school counselors or me. We want to work with all of our families to support our students and their learning.

In honor of Thanksgiving, I want to share my heartfelt gratitude for each and every one of you and your commitment to your child(ren), this community, and our school. It truly takes a village to raise our children and we are thankful to be in Athens.

Warm regards,

Mrs. Gauerke-Peter

Athens Middle/High School Principal

Principal fun fact: I was born and raised here in Athens, and now live on the same road that I grew up on. I have come full circle.

Brianna is the energetic glue that keeps the team bonded and interesting! She works hard at practice, is respected by her teammates and other competitors, but also has fun and is charismatic with all those around her.

Mental health is a vital part of overall well-being, especially for middle and high school students who face unique challenges as they grow and develop. During these years, students may experience academic pressures, social changes, and personal struggles, which can impact their mental health. It is essential for educators, parents, and peers to recognize signs of emotional distress, such as changes in behavior, mood, or academic performance, as early support can make a big difference. By fostering open conversations and providing resources, we can help create a supportive environment where students feel safe to seek help and build resilience for the future. Here is a great resource for parents below.

https://www.childrensmercy.org/parent-ish/2024/04/anxiety-depression/

Bullying in the middle school/high school handbook is defined as: a person willfully and repeatedly exercising power or control over another with hostile or malicious intent. Bullying can be physical, verbal, electronically transmitted, psychological (e.g., emotional abuse), through attacks on the property of another, or a combination of any of these. Examples of bullying include:

A. Physical – hitting, kicking, spitting, pushing, pulling, taking and/or damaging personal belongings or extorting money, blocking or impeding student movement, unwelcome physical contact.

B. Verbal – taunting, malicious teasing, insulting, name calling, making threats.

C. Psychological – spreading rumors, manipulating social relationships, coercion, or engaging in social exclusion/shunning, extortion, or intimidation.

D. "Cyberbullying" – the use of information and communication technologies such as e-mail, cell phone and pager text messages, instant messaging (IM), defamatory personal websites, and defamatory online personal polling websites, to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others.

Examples include calling a student “gay” or “trans” and even telling your friends to not talk to someone because they reported you for bullying. Spreading rumors or sharing videos of others in bad situations is also bullying.

Aggressive behavior can result in: co-curricular sanctions and/or disciplinary action up to and including suspension or expulsion. Individuals may also be referred to law enforcement officials.

The results of Bullying on the Bullied

• Depression and anxiety, increased feelings of sadness and loneliness, changes in sleep and eating patterns, and loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy. These issues may persist into adulthood.

• Health complaints

• Decreased academic achievement—GPA and standardized test scores—and school participation. They are more likely to miss, skip, or drop out of school.

• Suicide

The results of Bullying on the Bully may include

• Abuse alcohol and other drugs in adolescence and as adults

• Get into fights, vandalize property, and drop out of school

• Engage in early sexual activity

• Have criminal convictions and traffic citations as adults

• Be abusive toward their romantic partners, spouses, or children as adults

According to the American Psychological Association, studies have found that today’s children experience the same levels of anxiety as the average 1950’s psychiatric patient.

Bullying doesn’t need to be one of the reasons!

• Nov. 1st ASVAB testing (Juniors) 8-11am

• Nov. 2nd State Cross Country Tournament

• Nov. 4th and 5th FBLA Leadership Lab in Stevens Point

• Nov. 5th Marawood Honors Band and Choir/Stratford @ 6:30pm

• Nov. 8th & 9th @ 7:00pm, & Nov. 10th @ 3:00pm High School Musical/ Hunchback of Notre Dame

• Nov. 11th Veterans Day Assembly 10:15am

• Nov. 15th- 16th FFA Leadership Conference
  
• Nov. 27-29th No School/ Thanksgiving Break
• Dec. 8 HS/MS Winter Concert 2:00pm HS Gym
• Winter Sports Schedule Available on District Website

• Please contact our Administrative Assistant, Mrs. Young at 715-257-7511 by 8:15 am to let her know of your child's absence or appointments. Do not message this to your child's classroom teacher as they do not always have time to check it throughout the day. The office will be letting classroom teachers know.

• Athens Middle/High School is a closed campus. Per the 2024-2025 Student Handbook, no student shall be allowed to leave school premises during the lunch period without specific written permission granted by the Principal.

It is a program at a brick-and-mortar building in your school where you can go in person. At the Learning Center, you can find:

• A space to work on your RVA courses

• between in-building courses and activities

• 
  

  as requested by RVA staff

  if you are placed on academic probation

  
  

• Technical support

About your Learning Center

Coordinator: Ms. Shelly Carpenter

Email: mcarpenter@athens1.org

Phone: 715-257-7511

Address: 601 W Limit Rd. Athens, WI 54411

Room Details/Directions: Room 131

Hours of Availability: 7:30 am -3:30 am

Notes on Availability: Learning Center hours available upon request. Please call ahead if not already scheduled to come in.