Boston School Psychs

Yesterday at Ellison-Parks Early Education School, all students in grades K-3 participated in a 30-minute mental health and wellness session. Students rotated through engaging stations that included yoga, arts and crafts, gratitude activities, and affirmation bookmarks. 💚

Today, families and caregivers will also have an opportunity to participate in mental health and wellness activities designed to support connection, reflection, and self-care.

A special thank you to BPS School Psychologist Madison Blake for helping coordinate these meaningful events and for sharing these photos. 🙏

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, students at Brighton High School participated in a Mental Health Awareness presentation on May 8th. Led by Tracey Lalsingh, Maria Monterio-Roby, and Laura Shachmut, the event provided an opportunity for students to engage in meaningful conversations about mental health, wellness, and the importance of supporting one another. Events like these help promote awareness, strengthen connections, and create school communities where students feel supported and empowered. 💚🧠

Hannah O'Gara is featured in this week’s BPS Behavioral Health Services Grad Student Spotlight.

Currently serving at New Mission High School, Hannah has made a positive impact by spearheading an inclusion initiative centered on disability awareness and acceptance. Through mini-lessons, structured activities, and ongoing support, she has helped create opportunities for students to build authentic connections with their peers. It has been especially meaningful to see students develop genuine friendships and contribute to a more inclusive and welcoming school community.

Hannah is motivated by her life experiences and the people closest to her. She values the opportunity to advocate not only for students’ academic, social, emotional, and behavioral needs, but also for families, communities, and systems-level change. Hannah is inspired by the ability to turn challenges into meaningful action and make a positive difference each day.

This week on the Boston School Psychs Podcast, we are joined by Dr. Carolyn Hall for an inspiring conversation on leadership, advocacy, systems change, and the evolving role of school psychologists. Carolyn shares her journey to becoming the Program Director for Boston Public Schools’ Comprehensive Behavioral Health Model (CBHM), and reflects on the experiences that shaped her path into leadership.

We also discuss practical strategies for school psychologists, including how school psychologists can use MTSS frameworks, data-based decision making, and evidence-based interventions to support students and school teams. Carolyn shares insights from her research on literacy interventions and highlights ways school psychologists can help schools strengthen systems that lead to better outcomes for students.

The conversation also explores themes of advocacy, equity, and stepping into leadership opportunities even when you may not feel completely ready. Whether you are a graduate student, early career school psychologist, or experienced practitioner, this episode offers meaningful insights and practical takeaways to help expand your impact in schools.

✨ New episodes every other Wednesday🎧 Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube by searching “Boston School Psychs”

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/Kd6MH5p_Gg0?si=eovwOuJkCvsUaJgh

Apple Podcasts Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/boston-school-psychs-podcast/id1845054541

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/36dU8URcCPWS5gMQRnHAFa

Boston Public Schools families are invited to join a series of free virtual community presentations focused on supporting children’s mental health and well-being. Throughout May, school-based mental health professionals from BPS Behavioral Health Services will host live Zoom presentations for families to learn more about supporting their child’s social-emotional and mental health needs. Presentations will be offered in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, and Arabic. 💙

School psychologists, social workers, and school counselors work closely with students, families, and school staff to support mental health, social-emotional development, and overall well-being. These professionals help students navigate challenges, provide counseling and support, and connect families with additional resources when needed.

We encourage families to join these important community conversations and connect with BPS mental health professionals throughout the month of May.

Congratulations to our very own Madison Blake on an incredible accomplishment! 🏅💙

Last month, Madison officially crossed the finish line of the 2026 Boston Marathon while also reaching her fundraising goal of raising $10,000 for the Museum of Science to support hands-on STEM programs for children and families across Boston and beyond.

Over the past several months, the BPS community proudly followed Madison’s journey as she trained, fundraised, and represented the spirit of dedication, perseverance, and service that makes our Behavioral Health Services team so special. Every mile she ran helped support opportunities that spark curiosity, expand access to science education, and positively impact students throughout our communities.

We are so proud to celebrate this amazing achievement and grateful to everyone who donated, shared her story, and cheered her on along the way. Congratulations, Madison! 🎉👏

Boston Public Schools achieves highest graduation rate in district history! 📈

The Class of 2025 reached a record 81.3% four-year graduation rate, marking the strongest outcome BPS has ever recorded. This reflects an increase of 1.6 percentage points from last year and represents approximately 400 more students graduating compared to 2024.

At the same time, the district’s dropout rate declined to 3.6%, one of the lowest rates on record. This progress is driven by targeted supports, including re-engagement efforts, individualized learning pathways, and expanded college and career opportunities.

Gains were seen across all student groups, with especially strong increases for English learners and students with disabilities. These results highlight the continued impact of strong instruction, meaningful supports, and a focus on keeping students connected to their learning.

The BPS Behavioral Health Services Department is proud of our students and this continued success, and remains committed to supporting every student along the way.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Boston Public Schools is committed to supporting students’ mental and emotional well-being.

Our school psychologists and social workers are here to help. Want to connect with yours? Reach out to your student’s school!

🔗Visit bostonschoolpsychs.com to learn more about our nationally recognized school psychologists and the services they provide.