Student Services

As a Rensselaer community, we prioritize the health and well-being of every student. Our schools work to ensure that every individual feels safe, valued, and supported. By cultivating empathy and providing proactive wellness resources, we strive to meet the unique physical and emotional needs of our students. Whether through a helping hand in the counseling office or district-wide wellness initiatives, we are here to support our students and families in maintaining a healthy, positive lifestyle.

For questions regarding district-wide student services, wellness initiatives, or safety protocols, please directly contact me at:

AJ Jones, Superintendent Email:

Suicide Prevention and Crisis Lifeline
The Indiana 988 Lifeline is available 24/7/365. Your conversations are free and confidential.
Text the number 988 | Call 1-800-273-8255 | Chat at https://988lifeline.org/

CDC Children's Mental Health Resources
This CDC resource provides an overview of children's mental health.

National Institute for Mental Health: Teen Depression
NIMH helps teenagers distinguish between normal moodiness and clinical depression.
  Download - English | Download - Espanol

Indiana Suicide Prevention
The State of Indiana Suicide Prevention resources provides links to additional tools.

Erika's Project: When Ginny and Tom Neuckranz lost their 14-year-old daughter, Erika, to adolescent depression, they turned her suffering into hope for other families.

Rensselaer Central Schools is committed to ensuring that every student receives a safe and meaningful education in an environment free from bullying.

Our goal is to protect and empower our students by:

• Educating students, staff, and parents on the clear definition of bullying and its impact.
• Implementing evidence-based prevention practices and positive behavioral supports.
• Standardizing reporting procedures to ensure every concern is heard.
• Collaborating with our Safe School Committees in each building.

We believe that by fostering a culture of mutual respect, we can ensure that every student feels secure and ready to learn.

IC 20-33-8-0.2 "Bullying" Sec. 0.2. As used in this chapter, "bullying" means overt, repeated acts or gestures... against another student with the intent to harass, ridicule, humiliate, intimidate, or harm the other student.

Resources
StopBullying.gov - dedicated to bully prevention.
CDC Essentials for Parenting Teens - resource for parents.
My Child is a Bully: What Should I Do - tips on bullying behavior.

If you or someone you know is experiencing bullying, we encourage you to report it immediately so we can help. Our form located HERE will provide the information needed to resolve the issue.

• Report it: Use the form to report the incident immediately.
• Contact a Staff Member: Reach out to a trusted adult - teacher, counselor, or principal.
• District Leadership: For district-wide concerns, use the Safe School Helpline.
• Confidentiality: All reports are handled with the utmost care.