NEWS RELEASE CONTACT:AJ ELLINGSON – Media RelationsOFFICE 515-241-5057 CELL 515-205-6090 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  April 20, 2020 UnityPoint Health – Des Moines to open Behavioral Health Urgent Care Des Moines, IOWA (April 20, 2020) – Beginning today, UnityPoint Health – Des Moines will be opening and operating a new behavioral health urgent care clinic in central Iowa to provide services to individuals who are needing mental health services, psychiatric evaluation and assessment, addiction medicine, crisis services and community resources. The new UnityPoint Health – Behavioral Health Ur ..read more

A local group, Please Pass the Love, continues to do amazing work when it comes to Mental Health of our youth and families in Iowa. I'm placing a link below that has daily opportunities for kids of all ages to participate in Zoom conversations about COVID-19, their physical and mental health, and just check in with other kids and caring adults. There are also webinars and online chats for adults to get information on how to protect our children's mental health during this time as well. After all these opportunities, there are a ton of resources that are helpful when it comes to kids, adults, f ..read more

   When in doubt, rely on the experts. I came across this article yesterday and found it very helpful with lots of good advice. Phyliss Fagell is a therapist and counselor and an author. I am continuing to read her book "Middle School Matters" which is PHENOMENAL and is a must read for educators, counselors, and parents who work with middle school students or children at school or home. She offered advice in a recent article and I have linked it here. Give it a read sometime today! Phyliss Fagell on how to help Pre-Teens through this crisis click here ..read more

We are excited that our School Food Pantry will still be open on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month and that we will still be able to help those in our community who need extra help and support. But with the COVID-19 virus and restrictions, our pantry will definitely look a little different. Whether you have been to our School Pantry or not, we want to help anyone we can in our community. Here is what you need to know for our upcoming openings. Please read and spread the word! *When are we open: 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. HOWEVER, we will be open the following upcoming dates: Thu ..read more

Well, about the time I am writing this would be about the time I would be at school with my own five kids and would be beginning to plan my day. Which students do I need to meet with, which students should I meet with, what teachers and parents can I reach out to, and in general...how can I help someone today? But instead, I am sitting in a chair at home wondering all these same things and not having an easy way to do any of them. My hope is maybe I can blog daily or every other day with some resources and ideas and still help in some way. And keep the hope and faith alive that soon I will be ..read more

8th graders, please take this 5 question survey. You will take this same survey again before Spring Break. Thank you! Loading ..read more

 If you missed this past week's Wildcat Weekly, I have reposted a short blurb about an upcoming project at Carlisle Middle School. Not sure how many years we have done this (I think at least 15!), but this is one of our favorite ways to give back every year. Our staff and students work to raise enough money to provide Christmas presents and gift cards to 4-6 local families who are in need. Every single penny raised goes towards providing a great holiday for these families. And it is awesome to see how generous our students are each year. We seem to set a fundraising record each year and I am g ..read more

Joyology! by Addeline Morlan Joyology is a student-run group at Carlisle Middle School that spreads kindness, positivity, joy, and acceptance throughout the school to make people feel more included and welcome in the school environment.              I created Joyology is fifth grade when I noticed more and more kids were being excluded and were by themselves on the playground. When I noticed this I would go over to them and be kind to make them feel included. Soon other friends joined me and we would go around the playground and we would be kind to these students. We would also offer these s ..read more

Summer Meals and Pantry Programs!     With summer approaching very soon, our counseling and student support team wants to make sure families in our community know and have a few resources when it comes to food and meals. We know the summer can be tough for some families to provide enough food for their family, especially their children. Our community is fortunate to have two different food pantries. One is our School Food Pantry located in our elementary building. The other is the Community Food Pantry located at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Carlisle. Here are the “open” dates for the School ..read more