Fremont Middle School
August 9, 2024
As part of our Parent University programming, FSD79 and the Fremont PTO will be co-sponsoring a Parent Book Club event on New York Times #1 Bestseller, “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt. We will be hosting a one-night discussion on the book on February 11, 2025. For more information on the book club event, please visit our table at next Friday’s Reading Rally. Additional information will be shared with families in the near future. Secure your physical or audio copy of the book now to prepare for the discussion.
Make plans to join us on November 12 for our next Parent University event. During this virtual presentation, learn more about evidence-based literacy practices that define the Science of Reading and how we are working to implement these practices in FSD79. Ryan Buggy of The Reading League will co-present the session. Attendees will learn about the professional learning taking place in the District and how we are applying that learning in the classrooms to further enhance our instructional impact.
A reminder that students will be participating in grade-level Elyssa's Mission lessons and completing a Signs of Suicide (SOS) screener this month. Our goals in participating in this program are straightforward:
To help our students understand that depression is a treatable illness
To explain that suicide is a preventable tragedy that often occurs as a result of untreated depression
To provide students training in how to identify serious depression and potential suicidality in themselves or a friend
To impress upon youth that they can help themselves or a friend by taking the simple step of talking to a responsible adult about their concerns
To help students know whom in the school they can turn to for help, if they need it
This program will be presented to all students by grade level on the following dates:
7th Grade: November 12th - note date change from last week's newsletter due to Book Fair
8th Grade: November 19th - note date change from last week's newsletter due to Book Fair
The SOS program is brought to us by Elyssa’s Mission, a nonprofit organization dedicated to suicide prevention. Elyssa’s Mission is the only organization in the state of Illinois to fund, distribute and implement SOS. To get more information on suicide prevention, visit their website at www.elyssasmission.org. Make sure and view their online Parent Presentation at http://elyssasmission.org/suicide-prevention-training/ for specific information on warning signs and how to keep your child safe.
As part of the program, facilitators will show the SOS video and subsequently lead students in discussion. Students will then complete a brief depression screener as well as fill out a response card indicating whether or not they would like to speak to an adult about themselves or a friend. The depression screening tool addresses thoughts and feelings which a parent may be unaware their child is having. This tool does not provide a diagnosis of depression, but rather alerts school staff to those students requiring further investigation. Students will also complete a response card indicating whether or not they would like to speak to an adult at the school about themselves or a friend. School mental health staff or a qualified community mental health partner will be available to meet with designated students; school staff will subsequently notify parents/guardians regarding any needed next steps.
If you have any questions and/or do NOT want your child to participate in the SOS program, please contact Emily Loerakker at eloerakker@fsd79.org prior to the program date. If we do not hear from you, we will assume your child has permission to participate in this program.
Fremont Middle School
Address: 28871 North Fremont Center Road, Mundelein, IL
Phone: (847) 566-9384
Website: middle.fsd79.org
Twitter: @FSD79
Instagram: @FSD79
YouTube: youtube.com/FSD79