Resilience & wellness are top priorities at Euclid City Schools
Parents everywhere are saying to each other, “Where did the time go?” as the summer days grow shorter and we settle into the routines of a new school year.
In our house, we sent one Euclid High School graduate off to college, and our younger son is starting his Junior year in the Fire Science Academy through the Lakeshore Compact program. When he graduates from Euclid in two years, he’ll be qualified to work as a firefighter. This is just one of many high-quality career technical education (CTE) programs at Euclid.
The school board held regular meetings over the summer, and we also supported the superintendent and administration during a well-attended safety town hall event related to building security measures. Thank you to all of the students, parents, and family members who attended the town hall or completed a survey to share your concerns with us.
Below are a few of the things I am most excited about for the 2022-23 school year:
EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS CENTER
In the building that was formerly Memorial elementary school, Euclid students who struggle to thrive in a traditional classroom setting can now be educated in a smaller, supportive environment with unique academic, behavioral, and social service supports to help at-risk students catch up with their peers. This new learning model was designed in partnership with the successful ChanceLight Education partners. Whether it’s teaching replacement behavior skills or helping students earn credits, Euclid’s Ed Options program will provide alternative and special education services to meet each student’s needs.
STAFF TRAINING ON TRAUMA & RESILIENCE
School board members were invited to attend the launch of a district-wide professional development program with principals, teachers, counselors, coaches, security guards, and other staff. We learned about the science and biology of trauma (big and small) and its effects on students’ ability to learn and self-regulate emotions and behavior. Strategies that Euclid staff and teachers will use include coaching students in helpful self-talk, stress management, modeling “stop and think” behaviors to develop self-control, and coping techniques that help students identify which parts of a difficult situation they have control over.
THE PANTHER WELLNESS CENTER
In partnership with the Ohio Department of Health and Northeast Ohio Neighborhood Health Services (NEON) Euclid will launch an onsite wellness clinic where students can receive medical care such as annual check-ups, preventative health care, vaccines, sick visits, etc. I’ve participated in community stakeholder meetings throughout the summer, and family surveys will take place this fall to ensure that the Panther Wellness Center services meet the needs of our students/families.
As I reflect on the goals of these new programs, I am excited about what this could mean for Euclid students and families. The 2022-23 school year will be a year for implementation, measuring outcomes and adapting our strategies based on what the data teaches us. How many students will participate in the Education Options program? Will we see improvements in social-emotional skills, learning, and attendance? How many families will benefit from the Panther Wellness Center? Will student vaccine rates improve and absences decrease? How many suspensions and/or expulsions can we avoid by equipping our students with the skills they need to navigate stress and overcome adversity? These are the kinds of things we will measure as we strive to meet the needs of every student, every lesson, every day.
Thank you, again, for the community support that makes these investments in our students possible. The best is yet to come for Euclid Schools, and I look forward to sharing with you the growth and learning we experience along the way. — Pam