Fall is here, school is in full swing, and, as hard as it is to believe, the holidays are just around the corner. Hopefully your year is off to a great start, with exciting memories already made and many more to look forward to. We want this year to be safe, happy, and healthy for everyone, so read on for tips on the power of gratitude, dealing with those holiday blues, talking with your kids about substance abuse, and how to build more empathy, resiliency, and compassion into your child. Be sure to check out the link to our SEL Online Library as well for links to read-a-longs for books on any number of social emotional topics. For even more helps, take a look at our newsletter archives on our Counseling Webpage under "Newsletter Archive" in the left-hand column.

As always, if you are concerned that you or someone you know may be experiencing a mental health issue, it is important to act. Start the conversation. Seek help from a trusted adult. A list of area Mental Health resources and hotlines can be found on our district counseling website under Counseling Resources. You are not alone.

Happy Harvest and Happy Holidays,

Ashley Ward, MS, LPC, CCTP

Coordinator of Counseling and Student Support

Mabank ISD

amward@mabankisd.net

November is National Gratitude Month, and it's no wonder with it being the month of Thanksgiving and Harvest. But did you know that gratitude actually rewires your brain? Recent studies in gratitude have gained attention over the last few years because of the remarkable positive impact gratitude has on our bodies and our brains. People who report regularly practicing gratitude have longer lives, better physical health, and greater overall life satisfaction! Check out the articles below for more details.

Mabank ISD is a Capturing Kids' Hearts District. CKH focuses on building relationships, accepting others’ ideas, and building on communication. This program is implemented to impact staff to student, student to student, and staff to staff relationships. Through CKH, staff and students learn and practice skills that they will use every day such as building meaningful relationships, using the EXCEL model to create a safe environment for learning, and using a social contract to develop a self-managing system for behavior and performance.

October is National Anti-Bullying Month and last Month Mabank ISD welcomed Youth Equipped to Succeed to present Super Friends with Super Powers and Empowered, two powerful and impactful presentations on bullying prevention. These programs teach students what it is, what it isn't, treating others with compassion and respect, as well as how being an upstander, not a bystander can make a difference. Assemblies are just one of a multidisciplined approach Mabank ISD employs to prevent bullying and build empathy and resilience in our students. Read on to learn how you can support our efforts at home:

Mabank Intermediate challenged their students to write notes of encouragement to each other and the results did not disappoint! Students lined up to pen kind and compassionate notes to fellow students and filled a bulletin board with positive and uplifting words of affirmation. Thank you students and staff for being Difference Makers!

Try reading through the exercises below with your child, helping them think through how they might feel in each of the situations below:

Wrapping up Red Ribbon Week on campuses brings up the important topic of teen substance abuse and how to help your child understand the dangers and steer clear of drug and alcohol use.

Fentanyl can come in many forms and even the smallest amount can be lethal. It is often mixed with other drugs such as cocaine and heroin. Prescription medications can also be laced with it. There have been some cases where the Fentanyl pills were made to look like candy. Oftentimes, the teen has no idea that what they are taking has Fentanyl in it.

October was Fentanyl Awareness Month and National Red Ribbon Week. Campuses across the district commemorated Red Ribbon Week with dress-up days, informative student work, and guidance lessons teaching students how to stand up against the very real dangers of drug use.

Next week, students on our Junior High and High School campuses will hear a motivational message from Keith Davis, a former college and professional football player who has appeared on ESPN, ABC, USA Today, and in Sports Illustrated. He is an entrepreneur and a motivational speaker who has presented to more than 5,000 schools and corporations, and in over 51 countries!

Keith will share an important and inspiring message with students about choosing to be drug free.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), within the last two years, teen overdose deaths related to Fentanyl have tripled. Over half of all overdose deaths are related to Fentanyl use.

What can you do as a parent to prevent your teen from falling prey to this deadly trend?

1) Talk to your teen. Talk about the dangers that they may face at parties and social events. Let them know that they can talk to you about things that are concerning them.

2) Monitor their social media and app usage. This is a common way that teens get access to this drug.

3) Encourage your teen to get involved with extra-curricular activities, church, service projects, community, and school organizations. Keeping your teen involved can help battle loneliness, isolation, and hopelessness.

4) Know how to access the district’s anonymous reporting tool. It can be found on the district’s website. Report any suspicion that Fentanyl use may be occurring in the schools or that someone may be abusing it. Encourage your child to do the same. You could save a life.

5) Monitor your child’s behavior. Has their behavior changed lately? Do they have a new set of “friends”? Are they keeping to themselves more often than usual?

6) Seek help if your child is facing a mental health challenge or if you suspect they are using any substance.

Holidays got you down? While the holidays are a joyous and festive time for many, for others, they can be a difficult and stressful time. Whether missing a loved one, a demanding activity calendar, anxiety over costs and social pressures, or the shorter and sometimes gloomy days this time of year it can be extra important to check-in on loved one and carve out some time for yourself. Follow the links below to learn more about finding joy and balance this holiday season, focusing on the gift of presence, and enjoying time together.

This is an amazing scholarship opportunity available to any Texas student who plans to pursue a trade or vocational degree or certification at an accredited community college or nonprofit trade school in the state of Texas. The Life Association Scholarship may be used for tuition, fees, books, and equipment. They only have 1 applicant as of April 21st, so please share this great opportunity!

Click the link below to complete the 2022 Universal Application for the Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) scholarship opportunities. This allows you to apply for multiple scholarships hosted by CFT in one spot.

A chatbot named ADVi – short for “adviser” – uses artificial intelligence to provide on-demand support to Texans looking to attend or return to higher education. Right now, any student in Texas may access ADVi by texting “COLLEGE” to 512-829-3687 or by starting a freshman application in ApplyTexas.

When students sign up to receive messages from ADVi, they receive:

• The ability to ask questions about college 24/7 via text message,
• Backup support from our virtual advisers if a student has needs or questions beyond what ADVi can provide,
• Student-friendly, accurate, and engaging messages about key college access milestones,
• Information and tips to help with their college applications, planning, and financial aid, and
• Resources to help navigate the transition to college.

Learn more at www.askADVi.org.

Ashley Ward, MS, LPC Coordinator of Counseling

Email: amward@mabankisd.net
Website: https://www.mabankisd.net/page/counseling
Location: 310 East Market Street, Mabank, TX, USA
Phone: 903.880.1300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mabankisd
Twitter: @mabankisd