Forty percent of all teens have felt persistently helpless and sad. Maybe it’s the endless hours of homework after school, toxic friends, or even social media. Either way Elkhorn High School is fighting the current by boosting morale and creating a positive learning environment.
For Suicide Prevention Week, Hope Squad organized a week full of uplifting activities.
“I think this is probably the most important thing that we have in the school, in all honesty,” Hope Squad sponsor and science teacher Connie Bang said.
Monday’s focus was positive self image counselor Theresa Crnkovich said.
“We thought we’d start the week with writing some positive messages all over on the mirrors with dry erase markers,” Crnkovich said. The statements included messages such as: you matter, you are valued, you are beautiful. Stickers with positive affirmations on them were also handed out during passing periods.
Tuesday’s activity allowed students to interact with other people in the school. The school provided clothes pins with positive messages written on them.
“You clip positive messages on people, anonymously or purposefully, however you want to do it,” Crnkovich said.
Wednesday centered around creative freedom and decorating the exterior of the school. Teachers and staff provided chalk for students who wanted to participate in a friendly competition that helped spread awareness. At the end of the day, teachers awarded prizes to junior Heather Ramirez, for the best chalk drawing.
Wristbands and fidgets were next on the agenda. On Thursday, wrist bands were handed out to help promote suicide prevention.
“We’re gonna have a whole bunch of suicide prevention materials like fidgets and cards that we’ll hand out at the end of the day that have resources on them,” Crnkovich said. The resources provided on the items is what makes them so important to students.
Friday’s focus was connecting students and friends. Games were available at lunch for anyone who wanted to play and have fun. Friday was also be a purple out to help spread awareness around the school.
“We as teachers, and just as human beings, want to make sure that everybody else is safe and taken care of,” Bang said.
