SEPTEMBER 2021
Upcoming Events
-
FREE Red Ribbon Week Kit COMING SOON! WHEN has curated the best Red Ribbon Week ideas, organized them by grade level, and prepared a customizable kit to facilitate an easy and impactful Red Ribbon Week (October 23-31) program for any school or organization. We will notify our subscribers when the kit is released - please share it with anyone you think may find it useful. What is Red Ribbon Week?
-
September 12th: ROCovery Fitness will host its 7th Annual 5K & X-Challenge Run/Walk on Sunday 9/12 both in-person and virtually. Learn more.
-
October 4th Naloxone Training: WHEN will offer free online naloxone training again on Monday, October 4th at 6:00pm. Register now.
Webster Headlines
WHEN:DFCC Continues to Grow
We are thrilled to welcome new members: Chelsea, Ginny, Lynn, Lindsay and (another) Chelsea! We are excited to work with you all.
Look for our Logo on Your New Webster Central PTSA Calendar
WHEN is proud to sponsor the 2021-22 Webster Central PTSA calendar. Look for our logo on the calendar when you purchase your PTSA membership this fall. Your membership supports the well-being of Webster students, a cause we share. Learn more.
Healthy Choices Week a Success
WHEN partnered with local organizations to supplement “Healthy Choices Week” at Webster Parks and Recreation’s Summer Camp with gift bags for all participating families. See the Spotlight below for more details.
Celebrating 25 Years of Service
WHEN:DFCC was recently recognized by the Webster Chamber of Commerce for 25 years of service to the Webster community. Photo: Diane McClure, Board Chair-Webster Chamber of Commerce (L) presents Janine Sanger (R) with Webster Health & Education Network's Anniversary Award. Read more.
Making a Splash at the Farmers Market
Have you noticed WHEN bags at Webster's Joe Obbie Farmers' Market? Jane, our Programming Chair, has been working with local growers and vendors to provide WHEN bags for customers' use at the market. It's not too late to take advantage of this great local resource. Visit Saturdays 8:30-1:00 through October 30th at the Webster Town Center. Learn more.
Community Members Embrace Naloxone Training
Jason Teller taught another Naloxone training session on 8/9 benefiting Webster community members. Our next Naloxone training is scheduled for 10/4. Register here.
Partnering with Webster Businesses
WHEN is inviting community businesses to partner in protecting youth from early exposure to drugs and alcohol. Keep an eye out for our window clings in local business windows. If you would like to work on this outreach project, email Jen at media@whendfcc.org. Or click here to send a message requesting a window cling for your business.
September 25th is Family Health and Fitness Day!
Take advantage of the great work our partner, Friends of Webster Trails, has done to maintain 11 beautiful nature trails, and take your family exploring! You can find maps for all the trails on their website. A hike is a great way to reduce stress: fresh air, exercise, and exposure to nature all benefit our mental health and well-being.
Ease The Transition Back To School
"There are certain times in an adolescent’s life where they are at greater risk for the onset of alcohol and other drug use due to increased stress—particularly during periods of transition. When students start at a new school, it’s natural for them to experience a great deal of stress regarding new teachers, new friends, new social status and new expectations. While a little bit of stress can be a positive motivator, an overwhelming amount of stress can be detrimental and dangerous. Sometimes, to cope with their strong negative emotions, young people may turn to risky behaviors."
"Students will eventually settle into their new normal; however, there are 10 specific actions parents can take to support their tweens and teens through the transition, according to Ambre Associates."
See the 10 tips parents can use to make things a little easier this fall.
Upcoming Meetings
We meet 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.
Our next meeting is Wednesday, September 15th at noon. Simply register here to receive the meeting link, or email Janine Sanger, Executive Director for more information.
Spotlight
Webster Parks and Recreation invited WHEN to participate in their summer camp “Healthy Choices Week”, so we worked with the Friends of Webster Trails and the Webster Public Library to offer families ways to extend their healthy fun beyond camp. See highlighted activities here. Each camp family received a WHEN bag with sidewalk chalk, a flyer of suggested activities, a pen, and prevention information. Many thanks to our partners on this community collaboration!
Reminders
-
If you know a student who recently started college, talk to them about The Red Zone: “the first six to eight weeks of the semester when more sexual assaults take place than at any other time in the year. First-year female students who are often still in their late teens and have not yet developed a social network on campus are most likely to be victimized during this time.” Share safety tips with those you love, both male and female, and be sure to discuss consent. Most colleges require kids to watch safety training videos before coming to campus, but “getting students to pay attention to the problem and take the recommended precautions and awareness training seriously can still be challenging.” It’s more effective to have a face to face discussion with someone you love. Minimize your loved one’s risk of being involved in sexual assault by having a frank conversation today.
-
If you are a parent of a WCSD student and looking for ways to grow your network of caring parents, consider volunteering with Webster Central PTSA this school year. There are several open positions. It’s a great way to stay connected to parents, teachers, administrators and current issues affecting your kids. Email CentralPTSA@websterptsa.org for more information about a posted position or to find out how to connect with the PTSA committee at your school.