NCHS Social Worker

Mutual Ground Presentations | Posted 9/15/25

2025-09-20T05:57:00.003-05:00

On Monday, September 22nd, Mutual Ground will be presenting on sexual violence and dating violence prevention to all students during the school day. Seniors will attend the presentation during 1st period, Juniors will attend 2nd period, Sophomores will attend 3rd period, and Freshmen will attend 4th period. If you have any questions, please see or contact Ms. Elliott.

Cinderella's Closet | Posted 1/18/25

2025-01-18T07:51:00.004-06:00

Cinderella's Closet is a fun formal-wear boutique offering affordable Homecoming and Prom dresses during a two-day event held at Elgin YWCA on March 1st (9 AM–4 PM) and March 2nd (10 AM–3 PM).

There is over 3000 dresses ranging from size 0 to 24. Each student is provided with a personal shopper who will help them find a dress and walk them through the whole process from finding the perfect dress to choosing shoes, a purse and jewelry.

Each student must set up an appointment ahead of time. Appointments can be made online through the Elgin YWCA at https://www.ywcaelgin.org/. Go to EVENTS and then CINDERELLA’S CLOSET. Follow the prompts from there. For more information, please see the attached flyer or see Ms. Elliott for questions: https://www.nchs18.org/pdf/CC2025Flyer.pdf (PDF)

Thanksgiving Dinner Distribution | Posted 11/12/24

2024-11-12T17:59:00.006-06:00

Mission Bible Church is hosting a free, drive-through Thanksgiving dinner distribution in Morris. No need to register or show proof of residency; just go to Saratoga school on November 21st after 4pm (giveaway starts at 4:30). A full (uncooked) dinner is boxed and can be placed right in the trunk of the car. Download the flyer here (PDF)

Adopt-a-Family Program | Posted 9/16/24

2024-09-16T11:11:00.003-05:00

Is your family in need of any Christmas assistance this year? Please click on the flyer below for more information on the Adopt-a-Family Program provided by We Care of Grundy County (https://www.wecareofgrundy.com), a nonprofit charity serving the community by providing essential assistance and support to those in need. Download the flyer in English: https://tinyurl.com/5czbz2m7 Download the flyer in Spanish: https://tinyurl.com/2s3fyyxt

Suicide Awareness | Posted 9/13/24

2024-09-13T11:11:00.001-05:00

September is suicide awareness month and today marks the end of suicide prevention week. This is a time to raise awareness of the urgently important crisis of suicide. We use this month to shift public perception, spread hope and share vital information to people affected by suicide. Our goal is ensuring that students, friends, and families have access to the resources they need to discuss suicide prevention and to seek help. If you would like to show your support, please stop outside Ms. Elliott's office today to take a wristband or ribbon.

Stress Awareness Month | Posted 4/4/24

2024-04-04T13:46:00.005-05:00

Stress Awareness Month has been held every April since 1992 to raise awareness of the causes and cures for our modern-day stress epidemic. Stress and poor mental health are one of the biggest public health challenges that we’re facing. Sadly, even though that is the case, we are still not taking its impact seriously enough. We continue to separate mental health from physical health and vice versa. The reality is they cannot be separate – they are two sides of the same coin. There is no health without mental health and stress can lead to numerous health problems (https://www.stress.org.uk/national-stress-awareness-month).

It's critical to recognize what stress and anxiety look like, take steps to build resilience, and know where to go for help. Mental Health America (MHA) provides some tips on how to reduce your stress by utilizing a Stress Screener. Also, take some time to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website and familiarize yourself with strategies for stress management (https://hr.nih.gov/working-nih/civil/national-stress-awareness-month).

January is Mental Wellness Awareness Month | Posted 1/17/24

2024-01-20T08:59:00.009-06:00

This is a time to recognize the importance of attending to our mental health, especially considering the prevalence of challenges that exist in our world. Remember, mental health is just as important as physical health, and they often go hand in hand.

As we begin 2024, we should consistently make an effort to check in with ourselves and our loved ones. Mental Wellness Awareness Month serves as a reminder to prioritize your mental health, find ways to release stress, increase happiness, and improve the quality of your relationships. You can participate by creating intentional time with people who are important in your life, practicing gratitude, and balancing time between responsibilities and things you enjoy.

Resources:
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/caring-for-your-mental-health

https://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/11-self-care-tips-for-teens-and-young-adults/

https://www.homeworkhelpglobal.com/us/blog/self-care-ideas/

Wellness Wheel

World Kindness Month | Posted 12/22/23

2023-12-22T05:04:00.002-06:00

On November 13th, the world celebrated World Kindness Day. It is a special day that serves as a gentle reminder to spread kindness wherever you can. You may never know the invisible struggles someone is facing, and coming from a place of compassion and understanding may allow you to see people or situations differently.

As most of you know, we have a Kindness Club here at school, and the members of our club came together and organized some great ways to appreciate the kindness of others at Newark! Every week, members wanted to recognize a different teacher based on the results of a survey they created for students to ll out. They received great feedback, and were able to identify four teachers to acknowledge on the announcements: Mr. Cooper, Mr. Hall, Mrs. McCoy, and Ms. Quillen. We appreciate all teachers and staff who help to make Newark a kinder place!

On the student side, teachers and staff were asked to nominate students seen doing kind acts around the school for the whole month of November. By doing this, we wanted to convey the message that kind acts, no matter how big or how small, can have an impact on others without you even realizing it. Sometimes, our kindness is not always recognized or appreciated, but that doesn’t mean we should stop being kind.

We had 12 students who were nominated, and they all received kindness award certi cates to commemorate their nomination. From the nominees, three names were randomly chosen to receive a prize. Our rst winner was Jayden DeBoard, our second winner was Jacob Seyller, and our third winner was Kiara Wesseh.

Thank you for continuing to spread kindness throughout the school!

Student Services Giving Tree | Posted 11/21/23

2023-11-21T09:18:00.000-06:00

Student Services has organized a giving tree this year for families that are in need of support this holiday season. Please see the instructions attached (PDF) and reach out to Sarah Elliott, school social worker, for any questions or concerns. Thank you, and have a wonderful week!

October is National Bullying Prevention Month | Posted 10/5/23

2023-10-05T11:10:00.012-05:00

This month, we will focus on promoting kindness and respect, especially in the school environment. Students cannot control others, but they can control the steps they take to respond to any given situation.

Pacer's National Bullying Prevention Center has a vast amount of resources for students, parents, and school staff to share information about how to stop the bullying epidemic that is far too often seen in our school and our communities. Visit the site at https://www.pacer.org/bullying/ to find out what you can do to look for and prevent bullying.

These are some examples of the resources they provide:

Common Views and Myths

Record Keeping

What Youth Can Do

Bullying Prevention 101

Erika's Lighthouse | Posted 9/11/23

2023-09-11T09:15:00.005-05:00

Erika's Lighthouse is a not-for-profit organization that provides free resources to educators, families, and communities. It was started by two parents who lost their daughter, Erika, to depression and eventually suicide. Check out their mission and impact on their website: https://www.erikaslighthouse.org/get-to-know-us/.

Ms. Elliott and Mrs. McAnally will be utilizing the Depression Education & Suicide Awareness Program for grades 8-12 that is provided by this organization. There are also resources/videos for families surrounding conversations on mental health, warning signs of depression, and reaching out for support: https://www.erikaslighthouse.org/familyengagement/.

Meet the School Social Worker | Posted 8/17/23

2023-08-17T15:38:00.004-05:00