Seven patients died by suicide in 2020, compared to two in 2019 and one in 2018, according to data provided by the hospital. The numbers of patients treated for suicide attempts at the hospital have similarly increased over the past year, and skyrocketed in the beginning of 2021, data shows. In January, 40 children were admitted to Cook Children’s after attempting suicide, which is double the total from January 2020. Thirty-five children attempted suicide in February, compared to 22 one year earlier. Forty-three children attempted suicide in March, a record high and almost 20 more than March 2020. The troubling trend has led psychiatric staff at Cook like Carter to ramp up their efforts to educate community members, trying to reach schools, pediatricians’ offices and other places where adults can look for warning signs in children. The hospital is also hoping to send a message to parents that it’s OK to talk about mental health, just like physical health, Carter said. view article

Monday, it’s “Back to School” all over again for Dallas ISD. As a part of the Finish Strong initiative, the district is urging all high school senior students to return to classrooms for in-person instruction for the last weeks of the school year. “For us here in South Dallas, I want to make sure that my kids are graduating and graduating on time to take care of those opportunities to go to college, the workforce and the military,” said Lincoln High School principal Johnna Weaver. “If they come back to school, they are able to come back and get the support they need to Finish Strong.” view article

Pfizer says its COVID-19 vaccine is 100% effective in preventing all symptoms of the virus after completing its clinical trial with 2,300 adolescent participants.  Pfizer hopes its COVID-19 vaccine will be available to some children in time for the next school year. Pfizer announced it submitted clinical trial data for adolescents 12 to 15 years old to the FDA for emergency use authorization. The drugmaker says its COVID-19 vaccine is 100% effective in preventing all symptoms of the virus after completing a clinical trial with 2,300 adolescent participants. view article

During the coronavirus crisis, vaccine researcher Peter Hotez has become one of the country’s most trusted explainers of science — and so beloved in Houston that Antone’s recently named a po’boy after him. At the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, he and his team have developed a COVID-19 vaccine set to be manufactured in India. He’s also dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine.  In the U.S., we’re seeing a mixed picture. In some parts of the country, we’re seeing what some are calling “the fourth wave.” It’s hitting the upper Midwest pretty hard. Michigan is the worst-affected state. Also up in the northeast — New York, New Jersey, New England — those numbers are starting to go up. We might be beginning to see that in Florida now. There’s been about a 20% increase in cases over the last 14 days. view article

Masks and close contact quarantining are now optional in most cases at Decatur ISD following board action Wednesday. The board voted 5-2 to lift the requirement for students, staff and visitors to wear face coverings district-wide. The only exception is educators may require students to wear face coverings if they are within six feet of the teacher. In a letter sent to parents following the vote, the district said it still encourages the wearing of face coverings to slow the spread of COVID-19. The board also voted 4-3 to make close contact quarantine optional for all staff and students. Those who have been in close contact with a person with a confirmed positive COVID-19 case will be notified and given the option to quarantine. If a person is symptomatic, the quarantine is still mandatory. view article

Unable to leave work during the day to get vaccinated in Willacy County? Raymondville ISD will hold an evening clinic and a weekend clinic this week for people 18 and older. The first clinic will take place Wednesday, April 14, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Myra Green Middle School located at 693 E. Monroe Avenue in Raymondville. view article

During a tense encounter last week, four Katy Independent School District (ISD) officers surrounded parent Bonnie Anderson and her 15-year-old-son to inform her that she was being ejected from the public meeting. In multiple videos posted on social media, an officer informs Anderson that she is being asked to leave because she is not wearing a mask. Her son is also not wearing a mask, and other attendees seen in the video are unmasked. view article

THE WOODLANDS, Texas (KTRK) -- Police have found the student who allegedly sent frightening social media threats to shoot up a school in The Woodlands.  There will be extra police officers on campus at College Park High School Monday morning after threats were made on social media over the weekend, school officials said. view article

Abbott largely remained silent despite reports of widespread abuse in migrant shelters during former President Donald Trump’s administration.  After Gov. Greg Abbott gave a fiery press conference outside a shelter for unaccompanied migrant children in San Antonio on Wednesday, advocacy groups said they supported his general message.  The Republican governor had called for more oversight and an immediate investigation into reports the state had received of sexual abuse inside the facility holding more than 1,300 children.    (09) view article

Learning from home has become the norm for many students and after a year into the pandemic, it has taken a toll on some students’ mental health. Dr. Arti Lal, Pediatrician at Baylor Scott and White, said within the past year, she’s seen an increase in patients due to mental health. view article

Miami ISD Superintendent Donna Hale released a statement after the indictment of three students on multiple charges, including sexual assault. According to the Canadian Record, Hale released the statement after the arrest and indictment of Tanner Cummings Miller, Rance Ely Moreno and Tristen Leo Douglas. view article

KINGSVILLE, Texas — We've been talking about it for months now the education gap that the pandemic forced. Some students might not even see the next grade level. Some students won't even walk the stage. That's why Kingsville ISD is doing everything they can to make sure that that doesn't happen.  "There's some students that would be top students in their grade," said Selina Rodriguez, an 8th grade teacher at Memorial Middle School, "and they're barely passing, not making attendance". view article

AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - Three Miami ISD High School students face multiple charges ranging from sexual assault to aggravated assault. The charges are a result of an incident, Donna Hale, the Miami ISD Superintendent says happened on a school bus. The issue appears to be part of a larger ongoing bullying and or hazing situation. According to the Canadian Record, the three students involved were indicted by the Roberts County grand jury on March 25. The grand jury charged Tanner Cummings Miller, Rance Ely Moreno, and Tristen Leo Douglas with indecency with a child with sexual contact, sexual assault of a child, sexual assault, and aggravated assault causing bodily injury. view article

CANYON, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Canyon held a community open house and ribbon cutting for the new CISD conference center and toured the changes that have been made to the stadium. They are going to host prom events, and have others scheduled in the near future. view article

Last week the Texas Governor lifted the mask mandate effective this Wednesday, but Thursday La Grange Superintendent William Wagner sent this message to parents: “The Texas Education Agency has issued new guidance in response to Governor Abbott’s Executive Order GA-34. TEA has recommended that schools continue to require masks for anyone over the age of 10. Therefore, La Grange ISD will continue the District’s COVID-19 protocols that are currently in place to provide a safe learning environment for our community. Thank you for your continued support of our schools as we move into the final months of this school year.” view article

The list of those adversely affected by the ongoing global pandemic – now official in its second year – most certainly includes the entire education system and specifically, its students. Cancelled classes and after-school activities, remote learning by technology, socially distanced classrooms, lunches and bus rides, mandatory masks and more has changed the way students are learning. All of this has had an unfortunate result: thousands of students nationwide falling behind academically. “I know the pandemic and this past year has not been easy for many people,” said Liz Patterson, a 2006 North Garland High School graduate. “There have been a lot of things going on in our world and country. I just want to encourage them to continue doing what they need to and realize that their education is the key and the platform for what they want to achieve moving forward in life.” view article

Public school districts across Galveston County have employed methods such as social distancing, face coverings and even in one case high-tech air filters to reduce the spread of COVID-19 this year. No matter the mix, they seem to have performed about the same. District officials argue virus-fighting techniques are working to keep COVID-19 cases low and are preventing virus transmission within the school buildings. They argue schools are some of the safer places to be. The numbers indicate public schools are doing better than the general population in preventing virus spread. Across the districts, the rates at which students are contracting COVID are relatively uniform — on average 5 percent of the student population. view article

DeSoto ISD will host a COVID-19 vaccine clinic for employees and the general public April 14, the district announced. School officials are partnering with Methodist Health System to host the clinic, which will operate from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the DeSoto High School Freshman Campus gymnasium, 620 S. Westmoreland Road. view article

DALLAS — The Dallas Independent School District plans to welcome all graduating seniors back to campus on April 12 to finish out the year, according to an announcement from Superintendent Michael Hinojosa. Earlier in the day, Dallas ISD board trustees discussed their plan to invite all seniors back to in-person learning, five days a week, for the final nine weeks of school. The district is aiming to have 100% of its seniors return in-person to finish the school year. view article

Cleburne ISD Dyslexia Services will conduct an Information Drive-Thru from 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday at C.C. Cooke Elementary School, 902 Phillips. Parents and community members will receive take-home information packets on dyslexia and related disorders and a variety of instructional services available to students. Dyslexia affects an individual’s ability to read, spell and write. Children identified as dyslexic are both smart and hardworking, but have trouble connecting the letters they see to the sounds the letters make. About five-tenths percent of individuals living in the U.S. have some symptoms of the disorder. About 500 CISD students receive instructional assistance through the dyslexia program.    (09) view article

TEMPLE, TX — After consulting with the Bell County Health District, Temple ISD will begin the 2021-2022 school year with in-person learning as the only option for students. “Remote instruction has proven to be a far lesser option to in-person learning, in particular for our younger students,” said Temple ISD Superintendent Bobby Ott. “Our data shows that students who were enrolled in on-campus learning out-performed their remote learning peers across the board. At this point, more than 80% of students in Temple ISD have returned to in-person learning and our health and safety protocols have demonstrated effective results in minimizing the spread of the virus. Temple ISD has not closed a single campus this year due to reaching the 2% threshold as advised by the Bell County Health District.” view article

PHOENIX, ARIZ. – Across the country, states are expanding their COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to 16- and 17-year-olds as part of President Biden’s plan to make the jab available to the general public by April 19. High school is typically filled with memorable moments, but a lot of students have been missing out because of the pandemic. A 17-year-old Arizona high school senior, Camille Kerber, has been learning remotely for over a year. She says her school plays and musicals were canceled halfway through rehearsals, as well as several other events. view article

An unfounded threat forced Manor Middle School to briefly evacuate Wednesday afternoon. Students and staff were cleared from the building after a "verbal threat of violence" was reported. Killeen ISD Police immediately responded and notified the Killeen Police Department. view article

Big Spring ISD has launched its new mobile app throughout the district. The app will offer updates about news and events going on in the district and at various schools within BSISD. “Big Spring ISD is committed to keeping our community members actively engaged and connected with our school district” said Jay McWilliams, Big Spring ISD Superintendent. “We strongly believe that our new app will help keep our parents and community members up to date on the various events and activities taking place each and every day in our school district. I sincerely hope all of you will download the app and keep up with the outstanding things happening in Steer Nation!” view article

SAN ANTONIO – Residents living near Southwest High School, have not had to go far for treatment or testing for COVID-19. “We did see a lot of COVID patients and when those numbers were high it was every day we would see about 23, 24,” said Adriane Garcia, physician assistant. Garcia said COVID testing has been available at the Southwest ISD School-based health clinic since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. “With the telemedicine visit, they get the order, the patients can drive up and we can do the COVID swab outside,” Garcia said. view article

Over the last two months, the Point Isabel Independent School District has held several COVID-19 vaccination clinics. During the first clinic held on February 4, the district administered 300 doses to community members, a small step towards a growing campaign. On Wednesday, with help from the National Guard, the district administered more than double their previous record. The increase in doses came as eligibility rules expanded across the state. view article

With an eye on the future, Abilene Independent School District trustees and administrators spent time Monday preparing for a "new normal" no one hopes materializes. Financially, AISD must prepare for a scenario when close to 1,000 enrolled students don't return after COVID-19 has been eased from public consciousness. And it has school district officials contemplating staffing needs and potential class sizes as they build their financial requests for the next school year. Essentially, Chief Financial Officer Joe Waldron said Monday, about $10 million less will be available to them from plans made last school year. view article

The number of reported maternal deaths has increased nationwide in recent decades. Health experts and advocates say giving low-income moms Medicaid coverage for a year after delivery, rather than two months, could help avert some deaths.The Republican House speaker threw his weight Wednesday behind a bill that would extend Medicaid coverage to mothers for a year postpartum as part of a broad package of proposals meant to increase access to affordable health care in Texas. The number of reported maternal deaths has increased nationwide in recent decades, and Texas data shows Black women in the state die disproportionately while pregnant or after delivery, from causes like infections, heart problems and mental disorders. But health experts and advocates point to a fix they say would avert some postpartum deaths: giving low-income moms government-sponsored insurance for a year after delivery. They are kicked off after two months in Texas — though about a third of deaths happen 43 days or more postpartum. view article

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - There will be a chance for Zapata residents to get the COVID vaccine on Wednesday. Zapata ISD will be having their 4th COVID vaccine clinic. It will be going on from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. The clinic will be held at the Zapata Middle School gym. view article

The governor did not know the identities of those who alleged assault, nor did he provide many details. He said he was concerned more than one child may have been assaulted. Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday called for the federal government to close a San Antonio facility housing unaccompanied migrant children after he became aware of allegations of sexual assault.  “In short, this facility is a health and safety nightmare,” Abbott said at a press conference outside the Freeman Coliseum, which is reportedly housing more than 1,300 teens who recently crossed the U.S.-Mexico border without a parent or guardian.  The announcement came as Texas and the federal government are locked in battle over a recent increase in the number of migrants crossing the state’s southern border.    (08) view article

FRITCH, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — An area school is seeing the impacts of the winter weather we saw in February. Officials at Sanford-Fritch Elementary said they now have mold in their building after several pipes burst. Back on February 19th school officials said vinyl in some of the rooms started to loosen or were disturbed, and it indicated the presence of mold. “We investigated it, again I emphasize we’re not experts, but we had the same idea that it might be mold, so we called SERVPRO out of Lubbock, which is who we are using, to come in and mitigate and remediate all that building,” said Superintendent Jim McClellan of Sanford-Fritch ISD. view article

Finishing out the current school year before making drastic mask changes, in the Marion School Board president’s opinion, was a better idea than what his colleagues ultimately chose. The district had just about two months of school left last week when board of directors trustees voted 5-2 in favor of allowing faculty and students to choose whether mask wearing is for them. They did so after mask policies and procedures worked for the majority of the school year and continued to serve the district well, board President Mike Purcell said. “I think if we could’ve carried those out for eight more weeks, I think there’s no reason to believe they would’ve stopped working those last eight weeks,” he said. “Even though I personally disagree with the position of the board, if the majority of the board decided to do that, I will support that position as policy.” view article

Just over a month ago, the Raymondville Independent School District became Willacy County's COVID-19 vaccination distribution hub. While the district got off to a late start, the number of vaccinated is not far behind other counties in the Rio Grande Valley. In an all-out effort to bring more vaccines to the county, Raymondville ISD Deputy Superintendent Benjamin Clinton said city, county, and school district leadership got together and pushed the state for more vaccines. "In that push, they told us that the way the county would get more [vaccines] was if somebody enrolled to become a provider," Clinton said. The district officially became a COVID-19 distribution hub on March 1, more than a month after other hubs in Hidalgo and Cameron County were approved. Since then, the district has been holding vaccine clinics almost every week. "This was, really, just the vision of our superintendent," Clinton said. "Wanting to get these doses in and [making] sure that we do everything we can for our community to reach herd immunity. So that we can cut the COVID death rate to zero." view article

The Carroll ISD Board of Trustees approved a recommendation from district leaders Monday to remove requirements to wear masks outdoors while at recess and other school activities. The board also approved a recommendation to make shields optional for children under 10-years-old in the district. Currently, students under 10 were not required to wear masks, per Texas Education Agency guidelines, but were required to use shields around the sides of their desks. view article

Donna ISD partnered up with HEB, Hidalgo County Precinct 1 and the city of Donna to host a COVID-19 vaccine clinic. view article