In light of the recent suicide of eighth grader Jason Bernard, Peabody unveiled its new student resource center at J. Henry Higgins Middle School last Friday morning, which will provide behavioral health support from clinicians to its roughly 1,300 students.
“Today marks an important moment for our community, as we unite together as one to combat bullying and strive to foster a safer and more nurturing environment for all of our children,” Mayor Ted Bettencourt said to kick off last Friday morning’s event. “The tragic passing of Jason Bernard, of a beloved eighth grader this past spring, really brought to the forefront the devastating effects of bullying and the critical need for our city, and all cities, to do more.”
Bettencourt continued, “Over the past months, Peabody parents, teachers, health professionals, city officials, public safety officials, and caring people from all across our city came together to tackle these very difficult, but very real, challenges – mental health, bullying, and suicide prevention – all facing our children, families, and our school community.
“Our new student resource support center represents a part of that effort to provide critical, on-site care, support, and counseling to our students through scheduled and drop-in appointments and provide needed resources to students and their families.”
Superintendent Dr. Josh Vadala was next to speak.
He began, “Four short months ago, our community was devastated by the loss of Jason Bernard, and I’ve been very impressed with how everybody has come together, that Jason’s loss will not be in vain, that we can come together and really improve things as a community.”
Vadala added, “We’re really looking to provide as many support (systems) as we can for our students so that we can help them develop the skills so that they can be happy and successful and well-adjusted young adults.”
Bettencourt said, “Part of Jason’s legacy will be this center, and a big part of this effort has been Jason’s family.” He then asked Jason’s sister Cely Rosario – who he said has been a “guiding light through all this work” – to say a few words.
“Jason’s legacy calls us to be better friends, better teachers, better classmates, and better humans,” she said. “Together, we can be louder in kindness and stronger unity.”
Rosario added that she hopes everyone “truly takes advantage of this fruit, the seed that we’re planting, because it’ll only get better for the generations that are coming behind you.”
Attendees were then able to take a brief tour of the new student resource center even though school was in session. Vadala led the tour of the new facilities, which he said were office spaces before the renovation. The new center currently has three screening areas that are partitioned off, and more permanent walls are in its future. Vadala added that there is a potential fourth area that could be used if needed.
The new center is accessible through the main office as well as through its own entrance, and students are able to decide for themselves if they would like to go through the main office – as there are many reasons to go to the main office – for more privacy.
“There’s a lot of different ways to access this, and we try to make it as private as possible,” Vadala said.
He added that some students have already taken advantage of the new center’s drop in counseling and that, although it’s currently only open during school hours, Vadala said he is looking to add some additional opportunities before and after school.
