"I got your back," Schuylkill Technology Center students told during mental health training
Republican HeraldSep 23, 2022
Sep. 23—MINERSVILLE — Mental health took center stage Thursday at
In classic cheerleading style, a student on stage called out "Give me an A" and so on until the word "Aevidum" was spelled out by students flashing placards.
Other students held up signs with slogans like "Battlin' Together," "Battlin' for each other" and "Mining down the stigma."
The slogans, based on the school's "Battlin' Miners" logo, were part of a greeting by Minersville Area students to visiting students from
Sixteen technology center students — eight from each campus — were in
With
Before year's end, Sanfilippo said,
Aevidum — a made up word with roots in Latin — translates to "I got your back." It's based on four principles: appreciate, acknowledge, care for and accept.
"Every student needs to feel they are accepted and that they have a place to go," Sanfilippo said. "It's like creating a family environment, and that's important because we're such a small school."
Superintendent
"Tragedy invaded our community and our school," McBreen said. "We were devastated by what happened."
In an appeal for unity, McBreen said students at the technology center were on the right path.
"We're all in this together," he said. "You're going to make your respective schools very proud."
Mental health problems among students were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, McBreen said, though they existed well before the virus emerged in early 2020.
The
Social media, the pandemic and vast cultural changes have left a generation anxious and depressed, the report concluded.
Principal
"Have fun, get to know one another and be kids," he said.
"We were looking for a way to advance our training, and we found Aevidum." she said. "I like the idea of kids teaching kids."
Minahan said that the 16 students in the
"Kids need concrete tools to make it better for themselves and their peers," she said. "And, that's what Aevidum gives them."
As part of the training, students from the technology center's North Campus in
"I want to be there for somebody," said
"Everyone is entitled to have a dream, even if it's at a low point in their lives," he said. "Their dream should not have to go to waste just because no one was there to help them when they needed it."
Contact the writer: rdevlin@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6007
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