By John Dobberstein, Editor
A group of students organized a protest at the Broken Arrow Freshman Academy Thursday, saying there are problems with bullying at the school and they want more support from the Broken Arrow Public Schools and the community.
The group said a student at BAFA recently committed suicide, and they were also calling attention to the case of Makayla Brewster, another BAFA student who took her own life last year.
The group urged students being bullied to file incident reports with authorities rather than only relying on the school district.
In response, the Broken Arrow Public Schools issued a statement Thursday saying the district is “working diligently” with its team and mental health professionals to provide support for students.
“Our schools are places where academic, social, emotional and behavioral learning and mental health intersect and our teachers, counselors, and principals work in partnership with embedded therapists and school-based social workers to address the needs of the whole child,” BAPS said in a statement Thursday.
“Some specific ways in which we connect our students and their families with resources include:
- School counselors who serve as educators, collaborators, and consultants in meeting students’ needs and achievement outcomes.
- School-based social workers who assist in removing barriers to school success by connecting students and their families to helpful community resources.
- Embedded-therapists in each of our schools who provide individualized therapeutic support to students during the school day
- In an attempt to further identify students in need of mental health resources at specific sites this year, we partnered with the Mental Health Association of Oklahoma to offer parents the option of consenting to a mental health check-up for their student.
“Families of students enrolled in Broken Arrow who are seeking more information about these resources and services can contact their school principal or counselor.
“The COPES Crisis Services hotline at 918.744.4800 is available to all adults and children in the Tulsa area 24/7.”
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