• Please report to the auditorium during 1st or 7th period. You should come during your assigned College English period.
• Both M/W and T/TH classes need to attend either the morning or afternoon classroom guidance session on Wednesday, August 24.

• Please try to attend any of the sessions throughout the day on Wednesday, August 24. The information will be presented 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th period (every period except 3rd).
• If you are not able to attend any of the sessions, we will also have a Parent Night on Tuesday, August 23 at 7:00PM that will cover these same topics. Please try to attend the evening event if your college schedule does not allow you to attend on Wednesday during the school day.

SIGNS OF SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM

• To explain that suicide is a preventable tragedy that often occurs as a result of untreated depression.
• To provide students training in how to identify serious depression and potential risk of suicide in a friend.
• To impress upon teens that they can help themselves or a friend by taking the simple step of talking to a responsible adult about their concerns.

This program will be implemented through the 9th grade Biology classes in early September 2016. If you DO NOT wish for your child to participate in the SOS- Signs of Suicide intervention training in school, please print and complete the following form (SOS OPT OUT FORM) and return it to Milton High School to the attention of Melisa Marsh in the Counseling Department.

If we DO NOT hear from you before September 2, 2016, we will

assume  your child has permission to participate in this program.

CREDIT RECOVERY

Parents, if your student has failed a class they have the opportunity to do credit recovery through Georgia Credit Recovery and Fulton Virtual Credit Recovery. The courses are being offered are free of charge* and seats are limited. Athletes please note that as of 2016, Georgia Credit Recovery and Fulton Virtual Credit Recovery are not approved nor accepted by the NCCA Eligibility Center. For more information, please visit room 4301.

1. Teach Accountability Now that your teen is getting older, it's time to teach them how to take care of themselves and be responsible. Transitioning into a more independent role can be tricky at first. Start with little tasks such as setting their own morning alarm, waking up on time, making their own lunch, creating a schedule, and completing chores. As a parent, you can teach them responsibility by encouraging your teen to manage these tasks. This also teaches teens that in order to be successful they have to put their own effort into tasks.
2. Let Natural Consequences Occur No parent wants to see their teen fail or fall behind in school, but mistakes and failure help teens learn. If a parent repeatedly reminds a teen to do their homework, then he or she may become dependent on that reminder to be successful. If a teen does not complete homework, then the natural consequence is a bad grade. It's likely that the teen will realize he or she needs to find a way to complete assignments in the future. As a parent, you can discuss your teen's experience and create a plan for success together. Research shows that natural consequences are most effective for behavior change. Practice this over the summer by setting up chores and creating consequences for not completing responsibilities.
3. Self- Care Stress increases for teens in high school. In addition to other stressors teens experience such as friends and hormones, academics in high school become more rigorous and expectations on placed on students increase. Work with your teen on practicing daily self-care to release stress through exercise, relaxation, or quality time with friends or family. Learning to release stress before stress piles up is the best way to be prepared!
4. Practice Mindfulness There are a lot of distractions throughout high school. Talk to your teen about keeping their focus on one thing at a time. Teens can practice mindfulness by focusing on one assignment at a time and letting go of anxiety and stress they feel about upcoming assignments. Encourage them to take each day a step at a time.
5. Encourage an Open-Mind High school is full of new opportunities and teens have the world at their fingertips! Encourage your teen to explore different activities and people this summer to identify their interests, passions, and values. Clubs and sports can be a good outlet for self-care and a helpful way to make friends. As a parent, you can talk with your teen about their new experiences and help then talk through their likes and dislikes.

If your teenager needs someone to talk to please call the Summit Counseling Center to make an appointment with one of the licensed School-based Therapists located at Milton at 678-893-5300!

Article by: Julia Harris, MS, NCC, LAPC

• It is imperative if your student has a medical condition that requires any Rescue medication, i.e.: asthma, allergic reactions, seizures and diabetes, that we have those meds at school for emergency situations.
• Students are allowed to carry an Inhaler, Epi-Pen and Insulin if there is a signed SHS 2 form on file in the clinic.
• All other prescription medication such as ADHD meds, anxiety, diastat and prescription pain meds must be stored in the clinic in its original container. A completed SHS2 form must be on file in clinic.
• Students in high school are allowed to carry approved OTC meds as long as they are kept in the original container. Students are not allowed to share the medication with other students. Approved OTC meds include: acetaminophen, ibuprofen, Midol, oral antihistamines, cough/throat lozenges, antacids and aspirin. Be advised Aleve is not approved. It must be stored in Clinic.
• OTC meds that are stored in the clinic must have a completed SHS1 form on file in the clinic.
• For all prescription medications, a physician must sign the form.