JUNE 2025
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, 6/4 - DWI Mock Crash at Schroeder High School. Sign up here to help hand out prom/ball safety cards at the crash event.
Thursday, 6/5 - Lunchtime Legends at Spry Middle School. Sign up here to help.
Friday, 6/6 - Lunchtime Legends at Willink Middle School. Sign up here to help.
Wednesday, 6/11 at noon - WHEN monthly coalition meeting, in person at the Webster Chamber of Commerce and online. See details and register here.
Wednesday, 7/23 - Save the Date: Webster United Church of Christ has generously named WHEN a recipient of good will donations at a Caring Community Concert again this year. Mark your calendar for July 23 and come out to enjoy Allegro!
Webster Headlines
This month, we'd like to wish happy birthdays to WHEN members:
Beth P., Michelle M., Nancy S., Juliana D., and Emily F.
Recently, the School Administrators Association of NY (SAANYS) requested article submissions around the book "The Anxious Generation" and what school communities are doing programmatically to address the topic. Joe Montemaro, Director of Educational Technology and Information for Webster Central Schools Technical Services was an integral member of the team that put together our “Navigating the Tween Years” community forums. Joe submitted a fantastic article about the joint WHEN-WCSD efforts which we wanted to share with you here.
Community Arts Day is always a joy to attend and such an affirming experience for our community. This year, our WHEN volunteers helped kids make 72 squares for our Patchwork of Positivity and interacted with more than 216 people, handing out 15 Narcan kits and 21 Deterra bags. Engaging with the community at events like this helps WHEN increase visibility and awareness of our efforts and programs in Webster.
On a recent webinar, Operation Parent shared a “Family Trust Mutual Agreement” that we thought those of you with kids would find super helpful. Operation Parent offers great content, be sure to check out their webinars and sign up for those you interested in, even if you are not available at the appointed time. All registrants receive a link to the webinar afterward, so you can still watch it at your convenience.
June – The month of the Great Outdoors
“Protective factors are conditions or attributes in individuals, families, and communities that promote the health and well-being of children and families.” - ChildWelfare.gov
By WHEN member Dana Buccieri, MEd
"At the June solstice, no matter where you are on Earth, the sun rises and sets farthest north on your horizon. For us in the Northern Hemisphere, the June solstice marks the shortest nights and longest days of the year. For the Southern Hemisphere, however, it marks the longest nights and shortest days”. -EarthSky June 2025
Finally, in Western New York the rain will lessen and the gray skies will begin to part and our days become longer. Ahhhh, the anticipation of what we have literally waited months for will soon be upon us. That in and of itself should be a reason to celebrate, and celebrations are often what take over the calendar during these busy beginnings of summer.
We all know what being outside does to our state of mind and how it can soothe our souls. However, I will never forget being part of a group discussion at school with a mixed group of administrators, teachers, and mental health colleagues, in which almost every member expressed a desire to spend more time outside. The time of our meeting was during the month of October. So I imagine that each member of the group was probably reflecting on those summer months and missing the time spent nurturing themselves through the walking, hiking, biking, swimming, boating and various other activities of the previous season.
With these days of longer hours, it seems as though this intention can finally be set once again. Get ready to heighten your senses; smell the freshly mowed grass, take a few seconds to smell a newly opened bud, watch a bee as it pollinates and fosters the creation of life, and take in the color that surrounds your outdoor environment. Commit to spending a few hours outside each day. Include your family in your intention (and of course your furry members too) and note the difference in your attitude and brain after each moment spent in nature.
The awareness of the change that occurs is essential in its effect.
Create a goal for yourself; yes, a goal about your connection with nature. We all deserve to feel as happy as we can be during each of our days. Let June be the month you start a personal commitment to restore your calm and the quiet. Here’s the real challenge: see if you can keep your intention as the days get shorter, through each change of season! ; )
Spotlight
We’d like to give a great big shout-out to Stacey Peters and Aimee Shaver, Co-chairs of Webster Central PTSA’s Community Arts Day (CAD) 2025. Created in 1976, CAD showcases our children’s creative talent and artwork, and involves the whole community in a day to celebrate cultural arts. Activities include visual art displays, live musical performances, dance, demonstrations (karate, gymnastics, etc.), carnival games, sweet treats sale, plant sale, crafts, and more. Money raised at the event is shared between all participating school PTSA committees and used to bolster cultural arts experiences for Webster students of all ages. It’s a flagship event and a heavy lift for organizers and 300+ volunteers, and yet Webster Central PTSA pulls it off beautifully year after year with the support of the Webster Central School District, and in particular, several key employees who also go above and beyond. Thank you to all who bring this unique Webster experience to life!
Upcoming Meetings
Next Coalition meeting is
Wednesday, June 11 at noon.
Click here for details and to register.
Typically, we meet in person AND online via Google Meet the second Wednesday of each month at noon. Many of us join during our lunch break. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate. In fact, our goal is to have representation from all walks of life, to better meet the needs of the whole community.
Read the May Coalition Meeting Minutes.
Reminders
This is the season of prom, ball, and graduation parties, which makes it a good time to review expectations and safety plans with teens. We pulled together some great tips for you here.