Dear JHS Families,

I hope that this message finds you well. The staff at Jefferson High have been working hard all summer to prepare for your child’s return to school, and we are looking forward to providing your family with a positive educational experience. In addition to academics, we are invested in supporting your child’s social/emotional well-being. As part of that support, our staff has been working with local, state and national level specialists in mental health and grief counseling developing a series of resources to help promote and sustain positive mental health. We recognize that there have been a series of events over the summer that both our staff and students have worked to make sense of and to deal with in their own ways. The resources below have been put in place to assist with that process:

Sunday, Aug. 14 6 p.m.

Area Clergy from Jefferson County will host a an ecumenical community prayer service to promote healing for students, families, faculty, staff and our entire JHS community as they prepare for a fresh start to the new school year. This 45-minute service will take place in the JHS auditorium and will consist of prayers, readings, music, silence and candle lighting. There will also be an opportunity for individual healing prayers following the service.

Monday, Aug. 15

Morning: Training for all JHS staff on Suicide Prevention/Mental Health support (Bureau for Behavioral Health and Health Facilities trainer)

Afternoon: Licensed counselors from state and county agencies available to provide individual grief support to JHS staff

Tuesday, Aug. 16

All day: Licensed counselors from state and county agencies available to provide individual grief support to JHS staff

Wednesday, Aug. 17

Morning: Training for all JHS staff on social media usage/boundary recognition (State Police trainer)

Thursday, Aug. 18

All day: Individual class meetings with administrators to review resources available. Licensed counselors from state and county agencies available to provide individual grief and crisis support to students.

Friday, Aug. 19

All day: Licensed counselors from state and county agencies available to provide individual grief and crisis support to students.

Sept. 21

All day: Training for staff on implementing evidence-based suicide prevention curricula (National Center for Trauma Informed Care trainer).

Oct. 12

Morning: Follow up training on social media/boundary recognition (State Police trainer).

Oct. 20

Morning: Suicide prevention training for all students during LINKS.

We are hopeful these activities and resources will support the hard work we have ahead of us in healing as individuals and as a community, and in building a safe and supportive school environment grounded in mutual respect and accountability. We recognize that these will not meet every need for everyone. If you believe that your child requires additional support, please feel free to contact Mary Ellen Lloyd, JCS Facilitator for Student Support, at melloyd@k12.wv.us or 304-728-9235 for referral to additional community resources.

As always, thank you for your trust and support in serving your children.

Sincerely,

Sherry McCall Ross, M.Ed.

Principal