December 8, 2021
Dear Parents,
As we approach the school break, I want to remind you that we are here to support all families. Meeting the social-emotional and mental health needs of our students is a top priority.
From a school lens, we are seeing heightened anxiety around the ongoing pandemic, compounded by anxieties around what people are seeing and hearing on the news and the typical stress associated with the holidays.
FACULTY- Our entire staff (administrators, teachers, specialists, Student Support Services) remains focused on knowing all students and being alert to changes in student behavior signaling concern. Our District Crisis Team, which includes our own mental health professional staff in addition to outside agency staff from the Larchmont-Mamaroneck Community Counseling Center, Community Resource Center, Bereavement Center of Westchester, and Friends of the Family, meets regularly to discuss individual students who require extra attention. Additionally, our designated Youth Officers at each of our schools alert Crisis Team members when concerns arise.
PARENTS - Take the emotional temperature of your child on a regular basis. Note when things seem different or look different. Have there been changes in your child’s eating habits, motivation, interest in peers and interactions with family? Does he or she react more aggressively than you’ve seen before? Or withdraw and avoid more readily? Don't dismiss signs for concern.
COMMUNITY - Contact your child’s school psychologist, social worker or guidance counselor if you have even the slightest concern related to your own child or another child with whom you have regular contact. Call the school during regular hours. Be persistent, and state that you have a timely concern you need to discuss. Do not use email for urgent matters. In an emergency, call 911.
We encourage you to stay the course during these continued times of challenge, and never be afraid to speak up. With vigilance and collaboration between our staff, your family and the broader community, we can all take care of each other.
Respectfully,
Dr. Robert I. Shaps
Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Nora Mazzone
Assistant Superintendent for Student Support Services