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Mental Health is a Priority as We Return to School

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Yesterday, a confirmed case of COVID-19 within Norwalk High School and the P-TECH Norwalk school community put students and staff on a temporary remote learning schedule while the district conducts contact tracing. This is the first time a Norwalk school has gone to a remote model since students returned for full in-person learning on August 30.

There is no doubt that the last year and half has been difficult, and the COVID-19 pandemic changed what many of us consider to be “normal.” That’s especially true for schools, which switched to virtual learning at the outset of the pandemic almost overnight — an adjustment that was harder for some than others.

Resuming in-person learning is eliciting a wide range of emotions, from excited to apprehensive. Anxiety around a big change is typical, and there are ways Carver and our schools help students cope.

We call this practice Social Emotional Learning.

Fears about the potential spread of COVID-19 are still a reality for many, especially as the World Health Organization identifies new variants of the virus. Some parents may be caught between the pros and cons of sending their kids back to school: Children and teens benefit from learning and interacting with their peers in person, but COVID-19 is still a concern.

It’s important to know the facts and stay up to date on the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Centers for Disease Control is a great resource.

Regardless of whether a child is vaccinated, they may be required to wear a mask and take additional safety precautions like maintaining social distancing and practicing proper hand hygiene. It is also necessary to know each school’s protocol if a student does test positive — and prepare our children for any contingencies.

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Remember that any disruption to a routine can cause feelings of anxiety and stress, so Carver staff are sure to check in with our students often.

According to mental health experts, symptoms of anxiety can occur when someone feels very worried, nervous or fearful. Signs of depression or stress may also arise as children transition back to school.

Mental health challenges can negatively affect our children’s learning and social development, so it’s important that we check in often and are equipped with the tools and skills to support them in the best way possible. Their feelings are valid no matter what they are, and we can help them work through their emotions in a healthy way.

Returning to in-person learning may not be easy for all students, but maintaining an open dialogue, having a contingency plan, and managing our expectations are just some of the ways we can make this transition easier for our families.

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L.O.V.E. Unit: A new Carver initiative combining basketball, character-building, and community.

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Leadership Overcomes Violence Everywhere: That’s what Carver’s new L.O.V.E. Unit stands for. Led by Tremain Gilmore, Carver Teen Center Director and Co-Executive Director of Ej's H.E.A.R.T. Inc, L.O.V.E. Unit provided free basketball training and mentorship at Roodner Court and Columbus Court in Norwalk this summer, giving children the opportunity to learn one-on-one with local professional basketball players in a supportive, empowering community environment.

L.O.V.E. Unit is a part of Summer Run, an all-summer co-ed program that has been engaging youth through basketball since 2009. Held in the evenings at the Carver Community Center, Summer Run teaches participants the basics of basketball, strengthens their athletic abilities, and builds their teamwork and leadership skills. Youth are provided with rewarding activities and experiences in a safe, inclusive environment surrounded by friends and mentors.

Countless Carver alumni have sharpened their basketball skills at Summer Run, with some going on to play at the collegiate and professional levels. On Friday nights, some return to flaunt their talents, serving as inspiration for the younger players.

Summer Run and its new mobile L.O.V.E. Unit build inclusive communities of support and encouragement, giving children and youth positive role models to help them develop not only their basketball skills, but their confidence and character as well.

Watch the video below to learn more about L.O.V.E. Unit!

Positioning social and emotional learning (SEL) as foundational to our priorities

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All the schools in which Carver operates infuse SEL into every aspect of students’ learning—across all classrooms, during all parts of the school day (and after school), among administrators and staff, and in partnership with families and communities. When fully implemented, schoolwide SEL creates a foundation for all other educational goals.

10 KEY ELEMENTS FOR SEL IN SCHOOLS

CASEL has developed a list of 10 indicators—interconnected structures and practices you’d expect to see in a school that has focused on high-quality, systemic SEL implementation:

1. Explicit instruction: Dedicated time for learning and practicing social and emotional competencies.

2. Integration with academic instruction: Students practice SEL while learning academic content.

3. Youth voice and engagement: Students engage as leaders, problem-solvers, and decision-makers.

4. Supportive school and classroom climates: All students feel a sense of belonging and affirmed in their identities.

5. Focus on adult SEL: Adults also cultivate their own social, emotional, and cultural competence.

6. Supportive discipline: Response to behaviors is instructive, restorative, and equitable.

7. A continuum of integrated supports: SEL is integrated throughout student support services.

8. Authentic family partnerships: Families understand, support, and shape the school’s approach to SEL.

9. Community partnerships: School staff and community partners align on strategies and communication around SEL-related efforts.

10. Systems for continuous improvement: The school collects and reflects on SEL-related data to improve practice.

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Welcome Back to School next Monday!

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We are so excited to see all our students return to school on Monday, August 30 for the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year!

New school bus routes will be posted on the NPS website by August 27. The K-12 bus pass system that launched last year will be used again. Students will swipe in with their bus pass upon entering the bus. The equipment works in cooperation with the GPS tracking system installed on the buses. There is a digital dashboard, which provides the district with reports of students’ daily attendance on buses. Stay tuned for information on the new parent tracking app that will roll out in September.

To find out what time your child's school begins and ends click here. Students may arrive 15 minutes prior to the bell times that are listed on the website.

Periodic health assessments are required of all students attending Norwalk Public Schools in accordance with Connecticut State law. If the student already had a physical exam and met the requirements, the appropriate BLUE or YELLOW State of Connecticut Health Assessment Record (HAR) should be given directly to the school nurse as soon as possible. Please call your school nurse with any questions about the required health assessments or immunizations. You can access the NPS Nurse Directory by clicking here.

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The Connecticut Department of Education has mandated that all schools return to full in-person instruction. No hybrid or remote learning is planned at this time. State requirement remains in place for masks in all school settings and Norwalk has an indoor mask requirement.

On Thursday, August 19, NPS Superintendent Dr. Alexandra Estrella and other district leaders presented a Town Hall meeting to discuss opening plans for the upcoming school year. The NPS Town Hall was recorded and uploaded to the NPS YouTube Channel, which you can access by clicking here. If you would like to view a copy of the PowerPoint presentation that was shown during the Town Hall, please click here.

Support Carver alumnus and former employee Tyler Walston in his Berlin Marathon run for kids!

Tyler Walston bringing bundles of joy to kids at the Carver Community Center!

Tyler Walston bringing bundles of joy to kids at the Carver Community Center!

Carver alumnus and former employee Tyler Walston is running in the Berlin 2021 Marathon for the benefit of a great youth-serving charity, Rising New York Road Runners.

Please join the Carver community in supporting Tyler’s big-hearted effort! Make your donation here by September 8th!

“In my 3rd marathon, I want to connect to something with a much deeper meaning.”

Tyler has a long history of accomplishment.

NYRR Team for Kids is lucky to have him running in the Berlin 2021 Marathon on September 26th to raise crucial funds for the benefit of kids in schools, after-school programs, and community centers around the country.

“I want to inspire the youth to get moving!

I am partnering with Team For Kids to raise funds for youth programs centered on recreational activity and health & wellness.

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I am passionate about this cause given the current child obesity rates and lack of physical activity across the board for our young people.

This directly impacts one’s quality of life and self-esteem, two things absolutely crucial to a young person in their development.

Follow me on this journey, as it will be one for the record books!

Together we can create change!

Berlin 2021, I'm on my way!”