Mental Health Awareness Assembly: June 6 (What Made Maddy Run)

Waldwick HS Community,

We are excited to inform you about an upcoming event that aims to promote mental health awareness within our school community.

During the month of May, the Mind Over Matter Club has been dedicated to highlighting the significance of mental well-being among our student body. In observance of Mental Health Awareness Month, the club has been sharing wellness tips via Instagram. Additionally, therapy dogs are set to visit and on May 23, a mental health event is scheduled for all juniors and seniors in the morning prior to prom.

As a culminating event for Mental Health Awareness, on Thursday, June 6, we will be holding an assembly featuring a guest speaker from the Madison Holleran Foundation. The speaker, Carli Bushoven, is the sister of Madison Holleran, a young woman who tragically took her own life at the age of 19 in 2014. Madison was a graduate of Northern Highlands High School and a talented track runner at UPenn. Her story has been documented in the book "What Made Maddy Run."

Carli Bushoven will share her personal insights and experiences related to mental health, shedding light on the challenges many young people face and offering valuable perspectives on how we can support one another. We believe that her message will resonate deeply with our students and contribute significantly to our efforts to promote mental health awareness.

Without the help of the WEF (Waldwick Education Foundation) this event would not be possible. They covered the entire cost of the speaker. We can not thank them enough for their generosity and commitment to our students.

We understand that mental health is a sensitive topic and we respect that not everyone may feel comfortable attending the assembly. If your child prefers not to participate, they have the option to opt out of the assembly. Additionally, our school counselors will be available later that day, as well as on Friday, to assist any students who may need someone to talk to. It is important to us that every student feels supported and cared for and we want to ensure that they have access to the resources they need.

We encourage you to discuss the importance of mental health with your child and to reinforce the message that seeking help and support is a sign of strength. Together, we can create a supportive and understanding community where every individual feels valued and supported.

Thank you for your continued partnership in nurturing the well-being of our students. If you would like to opt your child out of the assembly, please send me or your child's counselor an email.