By Shelby Stewart-Soldan
ssoldan@mihomepaper.com
Inclusion is key for students’ mental health, which is one of the driving forces for HAWK time at Brandon High School.
“The goal, really, we obviously want attendance to be better,” said BHS assistant principal Megan Koslowski. “But the focus was the belief and understanding that that is going to happen when students feel valued and connected and involved.”
Through that connection and involvement, the teachers and students are able to address other needs. According to the self-assessment survey, 32.1% of students reported that their attendance to school events outside of the school day has improved this year over previous years.
“The more connected the students feel, the better that is for their mental health,” said Koslowski. “If they are struggling, they feel that they have a friend or adult in the building to reach out to for advice and guidance.”
Brandon Groveland Youth Assistance encourages getting involved in and helping build your community through many of their programs, including sponsoring HAWK Time rewards, and by hosting Youth Recognition Awards annually to honor students for their volunteerism and efforts in their community.
“They provide an opportunity for children in our community, especially those who have overcome adversity or gone above and beyond in their acts of service within the community, to be recognized by the very people they admire and look up to,” said BGYA caseworker Tasha Hanson. “Praising a child fosters confidence and motivates kids to continue making positive changes in their own lives. Also, many of these youth have never been acknowledged for their efforts or for the challenges they have faced, and we believe it is important to celebrate and honor them.”
Hanson also said that volunteerism and community involvement can increase self-esteem, foster a sense of purpose, and provide opportunities for learning and social connection.
“Volunteering in one’s own community helps children develop valuable life skills and gain a broader understanding of the world around them,” she said. “It makes kids feel valued and empowered when they contribute to something bigger than themselves, and that sense of empowerment often inspires them to become leaders of positive change.”
One of the bet ways that parents can encourage community and school involvement is open communication, both Koslowski and Hanson said.
“Talk with your student, help them find out, ‘well, if I’m not a football player, maybe I’d like something like robotics’,” said Koslowski. “Look at what the school offers and what the student’s interests are and find some overlap. Encouragement and positive reinforcement, and helping them find the courage and motivation to step outside of their comfort zone.”
Hanson also said that starting early is important when it comes to school and community involvement.
“Communicating the importance of giving back and modeling community involvement are key,” she said. “When parents volunteer in their own community or schools, children are more likely to see that involvement is important, and are more likely to follow in their parent’s footsteps.”
Kids who earn Youth Recognition Awards are celebrated by families and loved ones, as well as the greater community, during the award ceremony.
“You can see it in the smiles on their faces, they feel special,” she said. “Being recognized and celebrated not only encourages kids to stay involved, but it also inspires others, such as younger siblings and friends, who witness their accomplishments. Good things are contagious and getting involved and building one’s community are undoubtably good things.
Find more resources and information on mental health and wellness from Brandon Groveland Youth Assistance the first Saturday of each month in The Citizen newspaper.