Hello IA Families,

As grades come in, and juniors begin looking toward college, seniors start thinking about college applications and if they’ll be accepted, stress and anxiety naturally rise. Our students are high achievers, and we’re proud of their ambition—but we also know that the pressure can be heavy at times. It’s important for them to remember that it’s okay to struggle, to worry, and to ask for help.

I encourage you to keep the conversation going at home. Share with your student how you’ve handled stress in your own life and let them see that worry is something we all work through. Those moments of openness go a long way toward building resilience.

I’ve also heard some questions in the community about how we support student well-being. I want to be clear: student health and wellness are a top priority at IA. In addition to the daily support of our teachers, we have:

• A full-time social worker and five school counselors

• On-site therapy through our partnership with Summit Counseling

• Suicide-awareness lessons for all freshmen through their classes as well as refreshers for our 10-12 graders
• Counseling has created a new Zen Den to provide students with a quite space to assist in learning to reregulate when overwhelmed
• A new Care Crew Team which promotes monthly the importance of mental health and self-care, such as, Mental Health Awareness, It’s Okay Not to be Okay, and Maintaining Healthy Sleep Habits

• Weekly Student Success Skills lessons focused on mental health and balance

These resources are here for your students, and they are here because we know the need is real. We want IA to be a place where students not only excel academically but also feel supported as people—where they can grow into positive, resilient young adults.

As always, if you feel your student needs extra support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re here to help.

Scott Kent

Principal Educator