It is hard to believe that we are already in October! The end of 1st quarter is right around the corner.
Parents, feel free to email your student’s teachers with any questions that you may have regarding classes, grades, or progress here at DHS. Our teachers are always happy to have a conversation with you about your student’s progress. If your student is struggling in a class, please remind them that all teachers have lunch time office hours for additional help and support. Just a reminder that there are no schedule changes permitted at this time.
Here’s what’s happening this week for the Post-Secondary/Counseling center! Sophomores are encouraged to participate in college representative visits at DHS. Students simply need to sign up outside the counseling office. Please also see the attached information on a Vaping workshop.
UPCOMING COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVE VISITS: Sign-up in the Post-Secondary center
- Montana State University (Bozeman): October 2 @ 8:30am
- Columbia University (New York): October 3 @ 2pm
- Colorado Mesa University (Grand Junction): October 8 @ 2pm
- University of Montana: October 8 @ 11am
- Quest University (British Columbia): October 8 @ 2pm
- Willamette University (Oregon): October 9 @ 9am
DHS will be hosting a Military Night on Monday October 7th from 6-7pm in the cafeteria. Members of the military branches will be in attendance for a short presentation on each branch and time to answer individual questions. We hope to see you there!
Take the ASVAB at DHS on November 5 from 8-12. Sign up in the Post-Secondary Center.
SOURCES OF STRENGTH UPDATE:
Your DHS Counselors would like to share some background and updates on Sources of Strength, a national, upstream, suicide prevention program recently adopted by 9R. Sources of Strength represents a new tool in our ongoing effort to educate students and staff about risk and protector factors paramount in preventing suicide and cultivating resilience in young people. There are several important components to Sources of Strength we wanted to highlight. First, it is considered ‘upstream’ prevention because it aims to move back from a crisis-driven, reactive model to one that seeks to influence and educate students well before they face a crisis that might compel them to contemplate suicide. Second, Sources of Strength relies on a group of trained peer leaders and staff to develop positive, peer-led, socially-informed campaigns that focus on student voice, highlight student strengths and promote help-seeking behavior during difficult times. Finally, Sources of Strength is rooted in Positive Psychology, an approach that acknowledges that while most adolescent brains are hardwired for negatively, teens can be trained to look for and notice positive moments in their lives.
Last week, adult mentors and students from Escalante Middle, Miller Middle, Mountain Middle, Big Picture High School, Durango High School and district staff were trained to facilitate Sources of Strength on their respective campuses. This Monday, Link Leaders facilitated a discussion with ninth graders during Advisory, while Advisors in grades 10-12 asked students to graph strengths and deficits so they could identify and articulate the strengths on which they rely. Finally, recognizing the value of having faculty and staff understand their own sources of strength, staff will receive an in-service so they are familiar with the philosophy and core tenants of the program and its value in promoting adult/professional resilience and growth.
Vaping Informational Night at Animas High School: Thursday, October 3rd 5:30-7:30. This is both an informational and interactive night hosted by San Juan Basin Public Health to provide parents with ways to talk with their teen about vaping. Families will come away with facts and risks about vaping, as well as tools to start this challenging conversation with their teen. Families needed to RSVP by September 25, so if you have not done so and are still interested, please email Annie Mombourquette at: [email protected]
As always, please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. GO DEMONS!
Rachel Colsman - Academic Advisor
Katie Brandau - Counselor