• ISPA Members Elect New Officers
    by ISPA Web on February 13, 2024 at 10:11 am

    Dr. Sissy Hatzichristou, ISPA Past President We are pleased to announce the new members of the ISPA Executive Committee. Terms will begin in July at the annual conference. Elections were held in January of this year for Treasurer and Secretary. The new officers and their terms follow. Congratulations to the new officers and gratitude to [...]

  • Random Acts of Kindness Week is February 11-17, 2024
    by noreply@blogger.com (Psyched About School) on February 9, 2024 at 2:03 pm

     Although Random Acts of Kindness week will be celebrated next week, the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation has provided a calendar for the 2023-2024 school year; that's 365 ideas of ways to spread kindness. They also provide a variety of resources for spreading kindness at school, at home, and at work, including a 2024 calendar for adults to spread kindness at work throughout the year. Additionally, the Social Emotional Learning and Restorative Practices department has compiled a Random Acts of Kindness resource folder that includes lesson plans, kindness activities, announcements, book lists, and more. Join the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation in their effort to make kindness the norm, not just next week, but all year long! 

  • ISPA Student Membership Campaign
    by ISPA Web on January 31, 2024 at 8:50 am

    Dear Students You can join us for free for the first year. Avail of your free first year student year membership here: https://ispaweb.org/membership/membership-form/

  • Webinar: Generative Artificial Intelligence: Ethical Implications for International School Psychology
    by ISPA Web on January 31, 2024 at 8:40 am

    SAVE THE DATE! WEBINAR ‒ open to all ISPA members Friday May 31st 2024 6 am San Francisco (PDT) 8 am Dallas (CDT) 9 am New York (EDT) 10 am São Paulo 3 pm Paris, Cape Town 4 pm Nicosia 8 pm Bangkok 9 pm Hongkong, Beijing 10 pm Seoul 11 pm Sydney Duration: 90 [...]

  • ISPA 2024 Submission Deadline
    by ISPA Web on January 31, 2024 at 8:29 am

    ISPA 2024 Submission Deadline: March 1st, 2024. For more information and submission guidelines, visit https://2024.ispaweb.org/

  • Call for ISPA Nominations for Secretary and Treasurer for 2024-2027
    by ISPA Web on October 2, 2023 at 10:27 am

    ISPA will hold two elections for the Secretary and Treasurer positions in 2024. Each officer serves on the ISPA Executive Committee (EC) for three-year terms. They will join the President-Elect, President, and Past President on the Executive Committee. The terms of the new Treasurer and Secretary will run from July 2024 to July 2027. All [...]

  • October is National Bullying Prevention Month
    by noreply@blogger.com (Psyched About School) on September 29, 2023 at 10:00 am

    October was first declared National Bullying Prevention Month in 2006 to prevent childhood bullying and promote kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.   The US Department of Health and Human Services defines bullying as unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Bullying can be verbal, social, physical, or cyber and can lead to school avoidance, loss of self-esteem, increased anxiety, and depression.  The National Child Traumatic Stress Network reports that 1 in 5 high school students are bullied in the United States. The NCTSN also provides facts on the relationship between trauma and bullying indicating the importance of addressing both bullying and trauma.  October 2, 2023, is World Day of Bullying Prevention!  Stomp Out Bullying encourages us to join in solidarity to stop bullying and cyberbullying by wearing blue that day and throughout the month. They are offering an "Unapologetically Kind" blue shirt for purchase or you can just wear your own blue shirt. The Pacer Center provides a 4-week activity kit that can be used in K-12 classrooms to promote kindness, acceptance, and inclusion to prevent bullying. There are weekly themes and you can download guides, activity books, and posters to engage students. During the 2021-2022 school year, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools implemented the "Say Something" Anonymous Reporting System. Say Something is a youth violence prevention program from the national nonprofit organization Sandy Hook Promise (SHP). This system is designed for use by students in grades 6-12 and provides three reporting platforms (mobile app, website, 24/7 phone hotline) to submit tips, and a crisis center to examine and triage those tips.  Students can submit a tip through the online Say Something system by visiting www.saysomething.net directly, or navigate from the district and schools' website homepages by clicking the W-S/FCS Say Something page.  The free app can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play Store. Students can also submit tips through the hotline by calling 1-844-5-SAYNOW (1-844-572-9669).Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools will continue to operate the Bully Patrol anonymous reporting system for elementary students. The phone number and electronic reporting system information can be found on elementary school websites. Resources:The National Child Traumatic Stress NetworkPacer's National Bullying Prevention CenterNational Institutes of HealthStop BullyingKids Against BullyingNational TodaySay Something Anonymous Reporting System

  • September is National Suicide Prevention Month
    by noreply@blogger.com (Psyched About School) on September 14, 2023 at 6:18 pm

    This month, we want to take time to remember those who have lost their lives to suicide, those who have struggled with suicidal ideation, and acknowledge all of those who have been impacted. Why is this work important? According to the CDC, in 2021, there were 48,183 deaths by suicide in the United States, which is equivalent to 1 death every 11 minutes. 1.7 million adults attempted suicide. In 2021, the suicide rate among males was approximately four times higher than the rate among females. Males make up 50% of the population but nearly 80% of suicides. In North Carolina, suicide is the second leading cause of death in ages 10-18. There was a 94% increase in youth suicide from 2011-2020. Suicide can be prevented by recognizing signs, learning how to help, and taking steps to help those in need. Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Student Services Department has a district protocol to respond to and manage suicide risk.  Firearms are the most common method used, at more than 50%, in suicides, followed by suffocation. Zero Suicide offers a free, self-paced online course on Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM) that covers how to reduce access to methods people use to kill themselves and also provides resources.  The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has launched its #BeThe1To (ask, be there, keep them safe, help them stay connected, follow up) message to spread the word about how everyone can take action to prevent suicide. Visit their website to learn more about how YOU can take action. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline also provides specific resources for the variety of individuals struggling with suicide as we are reminded that ANYONE could be struggling with suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, or in crisis, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, in English, Spanish, and American Sign Language.  In an effort to normalize and change the perception of suicide, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools is partnering with community stakeholders to host a community discussion about suicide. Please join us on Thursday, September 21, 2023, in the media center at Carver High School for this community discussion from 5:45 to 7:30 p.m. There will be mental health professionals on-site.  #mentalhealthmatters#it'sokifyou'renotok#it'soktoaskforhelpResources:Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services AdministrationCenters for Disease Control and PreventionNorth Carolina Department of Health and Human Services988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineSuicide Prevention Resource CenterNational Alliance on Mental IllnessAmerican Foundation for Suicide PreventionThe Trevor ProjectTrans LifelineThe Jed FoundationThe Jason Foundation

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