FAQ
Supporting Student Wellbeing in Our School Community
STUDENT FAQS
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The Wellness Center provides a calm, supervised space where students can reset, regulate, and reconnect during the school day. Students may visit during lunch, supported by trained adult volunteers who offer a steady, approachable presence.
Throughout the day, the Wellness Center hosts wellness initiatives, panel discussions, and student-led programming designed to build coping skills, strengthen connection, and promote emotional well-being.
Support groups and small-group sessions meet regularly in the space, giving students a safe environment to share experiences, access resources, and receive guidance tailored to their needs.
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MPHS supports student wellbeing through a layered network of programs that promote safety, connection, and emotional growth. Trained school counselors, peer-led initiatives, student panels, and partnerships with community mental-health organizations ensure students have multiple pathways to support. Tools like the See Something, Say Something app give students a confidential way to report concerns, all teachers participate in the Capturing Kids’ Hearts program which focuses on relationship-building strategies that foster trust and belonging in every classroom. Together, these efforts create a responsive, student-centered environment where well-being is actively nurtured throughout the school day.
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Therapy-dog programs bring certified dog teams to campus to support student and staff wellbeing. These visits help lower stress, create moments of calm, and foster connection. While simple, these interactions can make a meaningful difference in a student’s day.
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Language matters. Public-health guidance shows that careful, accurate communication helps reduce stigma and unintended harm, particularly for adolescents. Communities strive to acknowledge pain while communicating in ways that prioritize safety and wellbeing.
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No. Thoughtful and precise language reflects a commitment to student safety. Communities remain actively engaged in prevention, postvention, and ongoing support even when they are cautious about terminology.
CAREGIVER FAQS
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Families are essential partners in student wellbeing. While schools provide support during the school day, conversations at home, expectations, and family connection play a powerful role. Simple steps—such as checking in regularly, listening without judgment, and helping students identify trusted adults—can make a meaningful difference.
Families looking for guidance may find these resources helpful:
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988) — for immediate support or guidance, even if a child is not in crisis
• American Academy of Pediatrics – Mental Health Resources for Families
• CDC: Helping Children and Teens Cope with Stress
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness): Resources for Parents and Caregivers
Shared responsibility between schools and families is key, and reaching out early for information or w.aap.org/support is always encouraged.
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Families can engage by attending programs, reviewing shared resources, participating in committees or working groups, and having ongoing conversations with their students about stress, pressure, and support.
Please be sure to follow the Mustang Express for updates on upcoming programming, what’s happening in our school community, and ways you can support our students and get involved.
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A suicide cluster is a public-health term used when multiple suicides or attempts occur unusually close together in time and place, based on verified data and formal analysis by professionals. The label is used carefully because language matters. How suicides are described can affect risk—especially for young people. Using the term too quickly or informally can increase fear, stigma, or imitation and distract from support and prevention. That’s why communities focus first on evidence-based response, postvention, and student support, and use labels only after an official public-health determination. Careful language helps protect people while enabling responsible action.
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Families who are concerned about a student’s well‑being are encouraged to reach out to the school right away. Students have access to trained counselors throughout the day, and families can contact counselors or administrators directly here. The See Something, Say Something app provides a confidential way to report safety or wellness concerns at any time, and all school staff are mandated reporters who can help connect students to appropriate support. Families may also contact their child’s healthcare or mental‑health providers to share concerns and seek guidance. For urgent mental‑health needs, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7, and in any immediate or life‑threatening emergency, families should call 911.
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Supporting student wellbeing is a shared effort. Schools, families, and community partners all play a role in creating environments where students feel supported, valued, and safe.
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Families who wish to support student wellbeing may do so through the school’s PTSO Annual Fund. Contributions help support a wide range of initiatives, including mental-health programming, student wellness activities, staff support, and resources that benefit the entire school community.
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Sources of Strength is a nationally recognized, student-led program that focuses on building protective factors such as trusted adults, positive friendships, coping strategies, hope, and belonging. Students are trained as peer leaders and work alongside adult mentors to encourage connection and help-seeking.
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Peer-led programs help reduce stigma and create opportunities for students to hear from others their age. Students often connect deeply with peers, and these programs encourage openness, empathy, and awareness of how to seek help when needed.
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MTSS - This link provides information on the different tiers.
Student wellbeing is supported through a combination of counseling services, trained staff, trusted adults on campus, and designated spaces where students can decompress and seek support. Much of this work happens daily through relationships, check-ins, and coordination among staff when students need additional help.
Sources of Strength
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Sources of Strength is a nationally recognized, student-led program that focuses on building protective factors such as trusted adults, positive friendships, coping strategies, hope, and belonging. Students are trained as peer leaders and work alongside adult mentors to encourage connection and help-seeking.