HASD Focuses on Uplifting Students
Amidst the wake of the recent Florida school shooting tragedy, the nation leans in to listen to the voices of student survivors as they join the March for our Lives Campaign, mourns with families and community members, and attempts to understand the “why” behind unnecessary loss of lives of our children and our fellow educators. Now, more than ever, our students are faced with heightened levels of anxiety, depression, and an overwhelming sense of loneliness; however, the Hortonville Area School District family and surrounding communities believe that we are all in this together in supporting our students’ social and emotional well-being. Through ground-breaking initiatives such as the E3 program, which offers onsite school counseling and grades K-12 mental health screening, HASD is taking preventative measures to listen to, support, and uplift our children. Educators, along with students, are guided to perceive compassionately, and offer compassion to others as well as ourselves. (Dr. Becky Bailey, The Seven Powers of Adult Conscious Discipline) E3 Program: Engage. Educate. Empower.
The Hortonville Area School District has built a culture centered around the support and awareness of mental wellness. Through the E3 program, students have access to onsite professional counselors, care when they need it, support groups and learning more about mental wellness. As of this year, grades K-12 students participate in free, confidential emotional screening and guidance. The profound impact and success of the HASD’s E3 program has gained attention at the state level. While state media, state school superintendents, legislators, state supreme court justices, and students attended the 2017 September State of the Education Address, Wisconsin State Superintendent Dr. Tony Evers recognized the district’s innovative efforts as well as mentioned insight gained from HHS senior Sammy Holtz. Dr. Evers noted that “because we are always stronger together, we’ve leveraged our successes in school districts like Hortonville to work with advocates, health care professionals, and legislators from both parties to propose and successfully champion school mental health.”
H.E.Y. (Health Empowered Youth) Student Group - Mr. Andrew Brown, GMS health teacher and one of the H.E.Y. group advisors feels that “being a part of our E3 program and leading our HEY! (Health Empowered Youth) group has been an extremely rewarding experience. Our work allows students to understand the vital role mental health plays in overall wellness. Through creating engaging activities and opportunities for students to learn, we have educated students on topics such as Stigma, Resiliency, Unity, and provided a feeling of school connectedness. Through these educational initiatives, we advocate for healthy living and a positive school climate, while providing students the opportunity to take leadership roles within their school.”
Second Step - Students, educators, and counselors collaboratively work through a newly adopted curriculum to “build the foundation for a generation of socially and emotionally savvy children” for grades K-8 (Second Step Overview). Through lessons spanning from empathy, to mindfulness, avocation for oneself, to setting goals, social emotional wellness is modeled and practiced regularly within the classrooms.
In light of recent events, we would like to reassure our community that the safety and well-being of our students is our top priority. Please review Mr. Todd Timm's safety letter to learn more about the measures in place at the Hortonville Area School District to prevent and respond to traumatic events in our buildings.
Through compassion and truly listening to our student voices, the Hortonville School District and communities build a sense of safety, social emotional understanding, and unity.
If interested in learning more about the E3 program, explore the following link:
//www.hasd.org/e3/index.cfm
To read Dr. Ever’s State Address in full, visit
https://dpi.wi.gov/news/releases/2017/speech-state-education-address