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We’ve been hard at work refreshing and updating our website. And, we’re so excited to share it with you!
We invite you to check it out and send us any feedback. We look forward to your thoughts!
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Berkshire Bank Awards Primary Project with a $2,500 Grant!
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We are extremely thankful for the generous contribution from Berkshire Bank! The funds will be used for the childhood literacy initiative through the Primary Project program at Syracuse City School District.
Contact will equip Primary Project playrooms with literacy based materials, such as books, magnetic alphabets, letter blocks and more, to support the reading development of children who are in grades Kindergarten through 3
rd
in the Primary Project program. Child Associates use developmentally appropriate practice, to support children’s literacy skill development, through individual attention in a fun, engaging environment in the schools we work in throughout the Syracuse City School District.
Through this grant, we aim to be another positive force in a child’s life that exposes them to books, letters, songs, stories and a variety of writing materials.
Thank you, Berkshire Bank!
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FCC Approves 988 a new 3-Digit Number for Suicide Hotline
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Recently, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recommended that 988 be designated as a new, nationwide, 3-digit number for a suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline. This designation will help ease access to crisis services, reduce the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health conditions, and ultimately save lives.
The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposes that calls made to 988 would be directed to the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL), a national network of 163 crisis centers that is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). NSPL counselors answered 2.2 million calls in 2018.
Having a three-digit number designated for suicide and mental health hotlines makes it easier for Americans in crisis to access potentially life-saving resources.
The FCC vote does not mean you can dial 988 today and be connected with the suicide prevention hotline. The move simply represents a major step forward in the process, opening a period of public comment on the proposal before the commission reaches the stage of finalizing the rules.
The notice proposes an 18-month time frame for making the number a reality.
If you are in crisis or need support, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
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Leaders of the PAX
By: Jean Kelsey, PAX Partner, STEAM @ Dr. King Elementary
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STEAM @ Dr. King Elementary has adopted an incentive program called “Leader of the PAX”. Each week, one student from each grade level (K-5) is selected as a “Leader of the PAX”. Students are nominated based upon specific criteria that they are modeling. Each month, our focus is on one specific social emotional skill that PAX supports. A few of the social-emotional skills we will focus on are self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills & responsible decision making. Each student nominated will have their picture taken and posted on the “Our Cougars are PAX Leaders” board at the front entrance of our building and will also receive special “Leader of the PAX” Tootles. At the end of each month, nominated students will also have a special award luncheon where they will receive a PAX Leader Certificate to honor their success. This program will run through June.
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The "Sarah Williams Effect" through Primary Project
By: Caitlin Raab, Primary Project Child Associate, Syracuse City School District
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One of my favorite stories about Primary Project is when I worked with a little girl, I'll call "Sarah Williams." Sarah's teacher recommended her for the program because she was quiet and withdrawn in class. She came to the playroom and completely opened up. She started to share about things in her life outside of school that were causing her fear and anxiety. I was able to alert the school social worker, who in turn was able to take necessary steps to ensure Sarah's safety. In the playroom, Sarah and I developed a rapport that made her feel supported and excited to come to school. She was able to play and feel special, which lead to her blossoming in the classroom. Her teacher shared that it looked as if a weight had been lifted off Sarah's shoulders. My supervisor now refers to this as the "Sarah Williams Effect." Taking a shy, withdrawn child and watching him/her blossom through Primary Project in this way is our highest goal. It was an amazing experience for me, and I draw inspiration from it often.
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Powerful Experiences through Student Assistance Program
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Institute of Technology Student Assistance Counselor, Melissa Erlenbeck, facilitated activities with Teen Institute students to share some of their most powerful experiences from a four-day retreat. They shared their experiences through an assembly for the freshmen class.
Students were taken through a series of four stations which included:
- Identifying their core values and how their values impact the way they navigate the world.
- Positive messaging in which students were asked to create small notes of encouragement and place them throughout the school.
- The cost of addiction - students were taken through an activity meant to simulate what a person could lose should they develop an addiction to drugs or alcohol. In addition, Teen Institute coordinator, Nicole Rookey provided an additional human element to the activity and shared the story of a family members' battle with addiction.
- I AM students were given the opportunity to reflect on the things that make them most unique and create a statement and announce it proudly to the group who in turn supported the positive affirmations. These statements were then placed on a large bulletin board.
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Click image above to watch the final winning video.
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Positive Action students demonstrate acts of kindness, empathy, gratitude and love
By: William DeSantis, Positive Action Coach, Syracuse STEM at Blodgett
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In late August, I attended a training about the Understanding by Design (UbD) framework as it relates to lesson planning. Considered “backwards design”, UbD planning begins with a question, “What is it we want students to transfer back to us after receiving instruction?” Moreover,
how
are they going to transfer these lessons back in a manner that showcases they understand the concept they are being taught?
By working with an evidenced-based Social Emotional Learning program such as Positive Action, I was curious as to how our students can transfer back the things they are learning. I collaborated with our Positive Action Committee to create a project that empowers our students to transfer back what they have learned during Positive Action instruction. The big idea was “
Students will learn to self-regulate and apply the tools and techniques provided during SEL in order to get along with others. This will be achieved through demonstrating acts of kindness, empathy, gratitude and love and transferring these sentiments in meaningful, professional, and socially important way”.
We created a project that was like an American Idol competition. Each classroom was tasked with creating a song, poem or rap that reflects what they’ve learned in Positive Action. Each classroom would compete against their own grade level and our student counsel picked a winner. Then the top classes between each grade level competed in a final round of judging. To continue the momentum of being a school-wide project, we recorded the top three videos and distributed the recordings to each homeroom where students voted on a clear, concise winner.
The project was a success! In addition to contributing to student and teacher buy in, it was also the first school-wide project our students were involved and engaged in. It demonstrated how to effectively use the UbD framework, as well as, supported how easily Positive Action can build into any agenda.
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March 30 & 31
8:30am - 4:30pm
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
Cost of training: FREE
To register: 315.251.1400 ext. 104
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Sign up today for Amazon Smile and 0.5% of your eligible purchases will go to our crisis & suicide prevention services!
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Contact Community Services | 6311 Court Street Rd | East Syracuse, NY 13057
315.251.1400 Business Office | 315.251.0600 Crisis Hotline
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