Students from schools across ĚÇĐÄVlog spent the first week of April strengthening their commitment to mental health awareness as they celebrated Hope Week and participated in the annual Hope Squad Conference. These events showcased a growing network of student leaders in the district who are building school communities grounded in safety, connection, and compassion.

The Hope Squad Conference offered mental health programs for students from sixth through 12th grade. Students explored and discussed how to support their peers, recognize signs of distress, and build a culture of care on their campuses.

“This year's Hope Squad conference allowed opportunities for fellowship, connection, and reignited the passion behind the work,” said Sarah Gray, ĚÇĐÄVlog Guidance and Counseling Elementary Specialist. “Hearing powerful testimony from guest speakers in breakout sessions and being able to collaborate with peers about the positive mental health support that Hope Squad programs at schools can provide was invaluable.”

While the conference united students districtwide, Hope Week inspired individual campuses to lead their own mental‑health focused activities. Throughout the week, trained Hope Squad members organized inclusive events at their schools designed to promote kindness, connection, and awareness. Hope Week allows mental health awareness and suicide prevention to be integrated into the positive campus climate in a developmentally appropriate way.

“Hope Week and our campus Hope Squads foster a culture of care where students feel supported, connected, and empowered to support one another,” said Telisa Brown, ĚÇĐÄVlog Guidance and Counseling Director. “This creates an environment that strengthens engagement, improves attendance, and supports academic success.”

For many students, the conference offered a transformative experience that deepened their understanding of mental health and strengthened their commitment to showing up for their classmates.

“The conversations were not easy, but they were meaningful and necessary,” said Seguin High School counselor Allana Moffett. “I saw our students grow in empathy, courage, and their commitment to supporting their peers.”

Even the youngest Hope Squad members felt the impact of the event. Dr. LaTonya Aidoo, Berry Elementary counselor, explained that her students were moved by the keynote speaker and enjoyed learning how to support one another.Ěý

“This experience planted seeds of empathy, courage, and leadership that will continue to grow throughout our campus,” Aidoo said.

The program continues to expand across ĚÇĐÄVlog, equipping students with the tools to recognize when peers may be struggling and to connect them with trusted adults. Students are taking the lead in strengthening a culture of care throughout the district, ensuring every learner feels seen, valued, and supported.

Visit the Hope Squad for more information. If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the suicide prevention lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. You can also reach out to your school guidance counselor for support.

Immunization Collaboration of Tarrant County hosting clinic

If you’re looking to cross one big item off your back-to-school checklist, you can do it starting July 31 when Immunization Collaboration of Tarrant County hosts an immunization clinic at the ĚÇĐÄVlog Athletics Center.

The center will be open Monday through Friday until Aug. 12 from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. It will also be open on Saturday, Aug. 5, and Saturday, Aug. 12, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. The clinic, located at 1001 E. Division St., will be closed on Tuesday, Aug. 8.

Please bring your current shot records to the center. Medicaid and CHIP are accepted at the center.

 The cost is $15 per vaccination for uninsured adults 19 and older and $8 a shot for children 18 and under.

The center accepts cash and checks only. No debit or credit cards will be accepted.

If students have private insurance that pays for vaccines, please see your child’s doctor.

If you have any questions, please text 817-776-5574 or visit . If you’re not sure what immunizations are required, you can see the recommended immunization schedule .

Thank you, Counselors

±őłŮ’s , and the ĚÇĐÄVlog is thankful for all of our dedicated counselors. The guidance and counseling department staff's selflessness and willingness to lend an ear is a blessing to all. Students dealing with academic concerns, mental health issues and any form of abuse or grief can speak with counselors to get the help they need.

ĚÇĐÄVlog's counselors are committed to each student's social and emotional wellness, college and career readiness, and academic achievement.

To all the counselors, ĚÇĐÄVlog says thank you for all you do!

About the director of guidance and counseling

Telisa Brown, the director of guidance and counseling, is outstanding. Her radiant smile and natural spirit of discernment gives students and her team a haven to decompress. Brown, who knows firsthand the effects the pandemic has had on students and staff, consciously leads with grace and compassion.

Brown, who has a student of her own at Bailey Junior High School, stays involved throughout the district by attending operational meetings, field trips and volunteering at Bailey for multiple events like the Kids Awards and the Hope Squad.

Although COVID-19 has made this another difficult year, Brown focuses on the positives.

“Being able to come together and engage with our students and my team is so important,” said Brown. “Helping the kids close social-emotional and learning gaps due to COVID-19 is our priority. We have adapted to virtual options, but face-to-face interaction is what we enjoy.”

Brown said she’s been able to maintain her own mental health by finding time to ground herself with reading, saying affirmations and making herself a priority. She encourages parents, students and staff to do the same.

Meet Jacque Redmon from Little Elementary

Jacque Redmon, the counselor at Little Elementary, handles things on the home front for the district’s youngest kiddos aged four to 12. When asked about the most fulfilling part of being a counselor, Redmon said, “Working with the kids, seeing their smiles and watching them blossom out of their shells is awesome, especially now that we’re back in person.”

Redmon admits the virtual options implemented due to the pandemic took away from the face-to-face opportunities with the students and the staff, which she really missed. To adapt to COVID-19, she prompts everyone to “guide with empathy.”

“Everyone is going through sickness and losses, so it is good to listen and find someone to vent to,” said Redmon. “Reach out and get help. You are not alone.”

To deal with the pandemic and keep a sound mind, Redmon is an advocate for leaving school at school. She focuses on her own mental health by decompressing at home with a good playlist, exercise, motivational podcasts and snuggles with her pup, Scooby! How adorable is that?

Meet Mr. Dennis Groters from Bailey Junior High

Dennis Groters, a counselor at Bailey Junior High School, began with the district as a Spanish teacher. After 12 years with the district and five as a counselor, Groters can say counseling is a part of his calling.

“If I could keep my door open and kids came in back-to-back to talk all day, that would be the perfect day,” said Groters.

Groters believes being a great teacher leads to being a great counselor. So much so that he is staying in tune with his teaching roots by mentoring JaQuan Reed, a senior from Arlington High School.

“JaQuan is a great kiddo,” said Groters.

Reed, who plans to attend Tarrant County College upon graduation, wants to be a psychiatric technician.

“Shadowing Mr. Groters has taught me counseling is beyond just helping others and being selfless,” Reed said. “You have to be able to build relationships not only with others but also with yourself."

“You have to be the one to step up and be the change when you don't see things going in the proper direction. And with you trying to better others with mental health, you have to remember you have to be there for yourself mentally, too.”

Groters stressed the importance of taking care of your mental health.

“Physical and mental health all work together and sadly there is a stigma behind mental health,” he said. “You would get the proper care for a broken arm, why not for your mental health. If you need the help, get the help.”

Glenda Simmons from Lamar High chimes in on the struggles of COVID-19

Glenda Simmons, one of the lead counselors at Lamar High School, was extremely transparent about the effects COVID-19 has had on students and staff. To put it lightly, it’s been tough.

"Our students' social and emotional interactions have been different. Academically, most students are playing catch up and our counselors have been stretched thin having to substitute for classes due to a shortage of staff because of COVID-19.”

Simmons and her team lean on each other for support in these uncertain times. And sometimes, they need help in the battle to cover up some of the ground lost due to the pandemic and that's when the power of relationships is realized. Student-parent and teacher-counselor relationships are key to each student's success.Ěý

For Simmons, taking care of her mental and physical health consists of eating healthily, listening to music, running and good, old-fashioned sleep.

Where can I get help?

Although the past two years have had their share of hardships, the consensus of the counselors is that helping each student reach their fullest potential is the best part of the work they do. As ĚÇĐÄVlog continues to deal with the pandemic, the district wants to ensure teachers and students have a safe place to go to when they need to talk and decompress. ĚÇĐÄVlog’s Care Clinic is open Tuesday-Thursday from 4-8 p.m. Teachers and students can utilize six 45-minute therapy sessions to encourage healthy habits and attain improved physical and mental health outcomes.

Third graders rush playground after ribbon cutting

The third-grader practically flew up the stairs toward the twisting slide.

“Oh my goodness!” she said, streaming her thoughts aloud. “This is awesome! Awesome. So many choices!”

Moments earlier, Pearcy STEM Academy Principal Codi Van Duzee, flanked by ĚÇĐÄVlog Superintendent Dr. Marcelo Cavazos, snipped the caution tape surrounding the brand-new playground with a pair of oversized scissors. The class of third graders watching nearby cheered and then rushed to their new digs.

The new playground at Pearcy is thanks to the support of Arlington’s taxpayers who approved the 2019 Bond in November 2019.

The bond is funding two new playgrounds for each district elementary, one for pre-K through first grade, and the other for second through sixth grade. The playgrounds include shade structures, accessible play equipment and rubber surfaces. While the equipment is standard from campus to campus, schools get to make their own color selections.

Pearcy’s playgrounds are the first in the district to open and are already a hit on day one.

“There are so many different elements on the playground that are exciting,” Van Duzee said. “There are so many different things that the students have never had before. This is going to hold their interest.”

Erynn, a third-grader, agrees. When asked what her favorite part of the playground is, she found it hard to decide.

“The merry-go-round,” Erynn said, pointing in its direction, “and that,” she said, pointing to a teeter-totter. “And the wiggly things over there. And the lemonade stand.”

She might have added more to her list, but she needed to get back to spinning on the spinning chair with her eyes closed.

Accessible

One of the most important features of these playgrounds is their accessibility, from the rubber surface to the equipment.

“I am thrilled that they are ADA accessible,” Van Duzee said. “The pea gravel and stairs of the previous playgrounds meant that children in wheelchairs or on crutches couldn't play with their friends, but our new playgrounds have a smooth ground surface and ramps to make the equipment accessible to all.”

Careful planning went into the design of the new playgrounds to make sure they will serve every child in the district.

“Of all the things I get to do, opening an accessible playground has to be the highlight,” said Kelly Horn, ĚÇĐÄVlog executive director of Facility Services. “For all the kids to be able to play really makes your heart feel good.”

More playgrounds coming soon

The playgrounds are being installed in three phases, with 17 elementary schools in phase one. Pearcy led the way, and now Ashworth’s and Bebensee’s new playgrounds are almost ready as well, with a number of others not far behind.

To stay up to date on all of the 2019 Bond projects underway, or to see what's happening and your child's school, visit .Ěý