Here To Help
Pandemic Resources Offered By The District
This pandemic hasn’t been easy and has impacted everyone, especially students. From providing hotpots to mental health help, the district has assisted with multiple struggles during this quarantine.
“The district has made every effort to help students stay connected during these difficult times,” said Learning Support Facilitator Mrs. Jacobs.
Since teens are stuck at home, it is very important to eat healthy meals, and yes, that includes breakfast. Though some more students may not realize, food is expensive. And healthy food is prohibitively expensive. During this pandemic, some families aren’t able to have food available.
Food Service Director Ms. Concoly, who works for the Nutrition Group, said, “When students are in school, all you need to do is have 3 of the 5 components offered, and the student will not be charged a meal. While school was not in session, there was a form where parents could register for meals. We then prepacked several days worth of meals and parents picked them up Tuesday and Thursday evening at the Primary.”
Although the food deliveries offered by the district were only available in the Spring and Summer, meal pickups are available by completing a meal order form on the South Butler website.
https://www.southbutler.org/apps/news/article/1201776
“When we deliver meals in the spring and summer, staff members volunteer to deliver the meals twice a week. Providing food relief is helpful because many families are struggling during the pandemic, and the food support helps to reduce some worries or stress they may be experiencing,” said Middle School Assistant Principal Mrs. Fitzgerald.
Another beneficial resource during quarantine are hotspots. Since last spring, several of the students without internet access have received hotspots from the district.
“Last Spring, the district brainstormed ways to assist families without the internet, and hotspots were one solution. They worked with Armstrong and Consolidated to provide internet access,” said Mrs. Jacobs. “They are not as effective in areas with limited cellular reception, but they are extremely helpful, when they’re used correctly. They’ve allowed many students without internet access to stay connected during remote learning. Though we have had some issues with students using up the data with Netflix and other non-educational things.”
https://sites.google.com/southbutler.net/resources/housingfoodutilitiesmore/internet
This pandemic has us all down, and most people do not know how to find or even know about some of these resources.
According to survey of the high school, only about a quarter of the students who answered have heard about the resources at this school. And even less than that have utilized them.
One student said, “A way to get the word out about some of this is to use a service/platform that they would actually listen to and actually see, not just posting something occasionally through Gmail. The majority of the school doesn’t check their email because they have better things to do.”
While the most known being school therapy, students also have used the student assistance program (SAP) and the internet hotspots.
“Being in school five days a week would be helpful. But I did use the internet hotspots. I told Mrs. Grantz my WiFi was bad and I couldn’t do cyber, so she gave me a hotspot,” another student said.
The resource that most students know about is SAP. Ms. Stein, the coordinator of the program, had some information about them.
“The purpose of SAP is to recognize barriers to learning and design interventions to maximize academic success and monitor their effectiveness. Our SAP Team is composed of trained teachers, counselors, an administrator, and a liaison from the Center for Community Resources,” said Ms. Stein.
SAP assists students with academic and attendance concerns, recommendations for mental health or drug & alcohol services through the SAP program. The process is completely confidential and students can refer themselves to SAP if they are interested by going to your counsellor.
https://sites.google.com/southbutler.net/khs-counseling-office/make-an-appointment
Another program to help struggling students is school therapy, also offered by guidance.
“In School Therapy (or School Based Therapy) is individual counseling offered by an outside organization, Family Psychological, within the school building. Sometimes transportation to and from appointments can be difficult to arrange, so being able to access therapy within the school building is convenient for most students and their families. Even when students are doing remote learning, they are still able to continue therapy through phone calls, by going to the Family Psychological office in Butler, or possibly video calls,” Ms. Stein said.
You can reach out to your counselors for a referral to Family Psychological or call them yourself at 724-287-1880.
https://sites.google.com/southbutler.net/khs-counseling-office/in-school-resources
“If you feel you need more help, you are not alone. And if you feel OK now, but in the future you feel you are starting to struggle, it’s OK to reach out for help at that time too. The impact of the pandemic may be felt long after this year concludes,” said Ms. Stein.
Although not many students know, the district has a bunch of resources that are helpful during these tough times. For some, out of school resources such as food, housing and child care, you can read more into it at https://sites.google.com/southbutler.net/resources/home