Care & Connection suggested as first school priority

Students will face this new school year with a range of emotions and not a little anxiety. The Oregon Department of Education wants to help schools set children up for a successful year.

ODE’s Care & Connection campaign invites schools to begin the year with a full week of making space for staff and students to connect and reflect on the past year.

“Mental health is a cornerstone of education, and we need to attend to the mental health of staff and students to create the conditions for learning,” said B Grace Bullock, senior mental health strategist for ODE.

ODE has created a toolkit, including sample letters to families, posters and banners, sample ads for media, and ideas for activities. ODE encourages schools to welcome students back and build excitement for the coming year.

“We're asking districts to dedicate a full week before the school year starts for staff and the first full week of school for students to engage in activities that build care, connection and community,” Bullock said. “One thing we've learned from the past year is the importance of dedicating time to relationship building and how important that is for students' mental health.”