The Dickinson ISD Gator Wellness Center will soon have extra resources to support students with anxiety, grief and loss, divorce and separation and hygiene awareness thanks to a $6,508.12 grant awarded from the Rotary Club of Dickinson. Each year, local Rotary Clubs can apply for a matching grant through the Rotary District 5910, which includes clubs in the Southeast and East Texas areas. The grants can range from $1,000-$3,000 to support service projects that address needs in the community. If a club is awarded a district grant, the club must match the amount of the grant with local funds. The Rotary Club of Dickinson heard of a need at the Gator Wellness Center for Gator CORE (Campuses Offering Resilience in Education) Kits to provide school counselors and support staff with resources when working with students in need. With $3,000 from Rotary District 5910 and the remaining $3,508.12 from the local Rotary Club of Dickinson, Gator Wellness Center will be creating age-appropriate kits in four groups – elementary, middle school, junior high and high school. The kits will include items to assist the school counselors and behavior coaches to work with small groups of students. The hygiene kits will help teach students how to keep themselves safe during the pandemic and in the future, as well as teaching social skills.

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Pictured are: (left) Amy Cmaidalka, DISD Social Emotional Learning Specialist; (right) Kimberly Rich, Dickinson Rotary Club President and DISD Executive Director of Human Resources

Approximately 66 percent of Dickinson ISD students come from economically disadvantaged families, which limits the opportunity for students to seek help through private mental and emotional organizations.

“By analyzing our districts data including income, discipline, attendance and those with adverse childhood experiences, we know the critical need for putting proactive preventive measures in place,” said Amy Cmaidalka, Social Emotional Learning Specialist for Dickinson ISD. “By being proactive and supportive, the program will provide students with a safe and trusting environment during their most vulnerable times while learning how to cope and develop skills to face any possible future challenges.”

Cmaidalka will oversee the creation, cleaning, management and checkout process of the kits to counselors and teachers at the district’s 14 campuses.

Dickinson Rotary Club members will also be helping with the organization and assembling of the Gator CORE kits, which will include the Rotary logo. Students and teachers using the kits will also learn more about the Rotary mission and projects that Rotary supports.

“The Dickinson Rotary Club will be creating an informational video, describing the materials available and training on how to utilize the resources,” said Kim Rich, Dickinson Rotary Club President. “The video will also provide a brief explanation of Rotary, the Four-Way Test, and the Polio project and how the local club is sponsoring the activity.”

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