A Note From Our Staff

Back to School

This past school year was unusual but after a long year of virtual learning our youth are finally heading back in person. As always, there are a lot of feelings heading into a new school year. Many of our youth are starting a new school, new grade, meeting new classmates and all of them are trying to get in the back-to-school mindset and cope with any anxieties or emotions. The pandemic put our youth and families through an extremely tough year but I’m hoping this new school year can be a fresh start for us all and allow us to revisit what is important for children and how we can best support their positive development.

May we continue to acknowledge their feelings, do regular chick ins and while the weather is still warm, provide that consistent in-person interaction. Let us all remember that success comes in many different forms and this year’s success may not come as easy as years past but let’s encourage our youth to find opportunities to do something positive whenever possible. COVID wasn’t the only thing that rocked our kids worlds but so did our many differences. During this year I’d like to help our youth understand the perspectives of other individuals and groups. This includes being respectful of race, religion, sexual orientation, age, feelings and ability levels – and how these differences can broaden ways of thinking and doing. There are so many lesson’s we’ve learned from this past year that I hope we are able to share with our youth to help guide them into their new normal.  

I’m optimistic that our youth will end their school year much different from last years and that we’ll be celebrating everyone’s graduations, honor rolls and championship games together. This won’t be an easy road and very may well be a bumpy one but no matter where their paths takes them, our support is essential to their success inside and outside of the classroom.

​Ashley Shepard
BEST Kids Staff
​Assistant Program Director