National School of Excellence Program – Enrollment Open Now

Enrollment for the 2019-2020 National PTA School of Excellence program year is now open at PTA.org/Excellence until October 1!

The National PTA School of Excellence program supports and celebrates partnerships between PTAs and schools to enrich the educational experience and overall well-being of all students. By enrolling in this program, PTAs are making a yearlong commitment to identify and implement an action plan for school improvement based on PTA’s National Standards for Family-School Partnerships.

Visit PTA.org/Excellence for much more information about the program, including answers to Frequently Asked Questions, informational videos, and stories about how other schools have found success with this program.

Preventing Suicide – Article from Child Mind Institute

Child Mind Institute

Helping children when and where they need it most

Many people are reluctant to talk about suicide, fearing that being open about it will make more people — especially adolescents — see it as a viable way out of whatever distress they’re feeling. But evidence shows the opposite: Asking a child we are worried about if she has thoughts of killing herself can actually help prevent her from going through with it.

Today is National Suicide Prevention Day, and we join many other groups in sharing information about ways we can fight the sharp increase we’re seeing in adolescent suicides. We explore warning signs that a child might be feeling suicidal, ways to lower the risk of a suicide attempt, and how to help kids cope with the suicide of a classmate, as well as their own painful feelings.

Caroline Miller, Editorial Director |

Signs a Child Might Be Suicidal

What to watch out for and how to help.

READ MORE ▸

How Are Self-Injury and Suicide Related?

The intent is different, though one can lead to the other.

READ MORE ▸

Teen Suicides: What Are the Risk Factors?

Temperament, family and community all play a role.

READ MORE ▸

What to Do if You’re Worried About Suicide

A parent’s guide to helping children in distress.

READ MORE ▸

Supporting Children After the Suicide of a Classmate

Responding to a painful loss in the healthiest way possible.

READ MORE ▸

Preparing Kids for College Emotionally

Problem-solving skills can help students keep from being overwhelmed.

READ MORE ▸

Why We Should Talk About Suicide

Join the Child Mind Institute for a special Facebook Live this Thursday

LEARN MORE ▸

Mood Disorders Center

Help for kids with depression and emotional dysregulation

LEARN MORE ▸

Dan Reynolds on Living With Depression

WATCH VIDEO ▸

Recursos en Español

Read childmind.org articles in Spanish

CLICK HERE ▸

Symptom Checker

Worried about a child? Use our tool to get informed

START HERE ▸

Missouri PTA Reflections Announcement

Missouri PTA is proud to announce that FIVE Missouri students have received National PTA Reflections awards! These students placed First in the Missouri PTA Reflections program to qualify for the National program. Missouri PTA is continually inspired by these students! They are passionate about creativity and the importance of art! The 2018-2019 theme was “Heroes Around Me”, these students embraced this theme with powerful messages, proving that they are our Heroes.

Award of Merit – Dance Choreography
Hayley Reickard
Cordill-Mason Elementary

Award of Merit – Dance Choreography
Sasha Plowman
Bernard Campbell Middle School

Award of Merit – Music Composition
Issac Faust
Bell Prairie Elementary

Award of Excellence – Visual Arts
Ben Sephen
West Middle School

Award of Merit – Film Production
Marcus Charles “Chuck” Williams
English Landing Elementary

Reflections Due Date Reminder!

Missouri Safe and Sober

Missouri PTA has been working with the Missouri Safe and Sober Program for several years and even in the last few years, their program was added to the Independence School District curriculum for the Middle School level. All of the materials needed to introduce this program to your school comes complete and for FREE, to use right out of the box. But you need to register your school to get things rolling. See the following for more information from Missouri Safe and Sober themselves:

Did you know that alcohol is still the number one most used and abused drug by teens? Safe and Sober is here to help with outcomes-based educational material for your school.

Each year we offer a FREE, comprehensive video-based program to all Missouri middle AND high schools.Last year alone we had 468 schools across the state sign up for it! The video content we provide is created new every year and features real life Missouri teens and their families talking about real issues they are facing. This year both our middle/jr. high and high school videos offer students a realistic perspective of the science behind the harmful effects of underage drinking and drunk driving. All our content is now available online immediately following registration.

To take advantage of this free and incredible resource, take a few minutes to register your school online today athttps://www. missourisafeandsober.com/ register/.

Please feel free to forward this information to anyone at your school you think may be interested in helping bring this program to your school. This is a perfect resource for your STUCO advisor, SADD advisor, activities director, prom committee sponsor, FFLA sponsor, or even SRO to use!

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out to our program coordinator, Whitney Mann, at whitney@missourisafeandsober. com or by calling 417-631-4009.

Thank you and we appreciate the proactive steps you are taking to help Missouri teens make safe choices!

Whiteny Mann
Program Coordinator
Missouri Safe and Sober
p: 417-631-4009
a: 3331 East Ridgeview St, Springfield, MO 65804
w: www.missourisafeandsober.com