September 23 – No School Rosh Hashanah

September 26 – Picture Day

September 29 – Nature’s Classroom

September 30 – Nature’s Classroom

October 2 – Yom Kippur

October 3 – Trottier SOS Meeting

October 6 Changemakers Training

October 7 – DC Parent Orientation

October 10 – Fun Run (Rain Date 10/17)

October 13 – No School (Indigenous Peoples Day/ Columbus Day)

Dear Trottier families,

Again this year, we will have a certified therapy dog, Riley, available to work with students at Trottier. Riley belongs to Stephanie Palmer, a 6th-grade Special Education teacher. She would like to share the benefits of the dog with other children. Riley has been certified through Bright Spot Therapy Dogs, Inc. (www.bright-spot.org). Together, Riley and Mrs. Palmer are a certified therapy dog team. The training process involved the successful completion of both basic dog obedience and therapy dog certification classes. Along with his training, Riley has had medical assessments and is current with all of her vaccines. 

Starting September 26th, Riley will join Mrs. Palmer one day per week. When Riley is “working,” she wears a therapy dog vest so everyone understands that she has a role within the school. We’ve put much thought and research into this, and we have made plans to help our students understand the expectations for working around a therapy animal and to make meaningful learning connections for the students with whom Riley will be working.

Please ask before petting Riley .

If there are already five (5) students around Riley in the hall, please wait your turn to pet Riley .

If you are petting Riley in the hall, please let others have a turn if they are waiting.

If Riley is in the hall “working” with a student or students, please do not stop to pet him.

Please do not feed Riley “people” food.

Please wash your hands after petting/spending time with Riley . Others have allergies and we need to be careful and respectful.

If you have an idea about a way to incorporate Riley into your learning, please let us know

Therapy dogs can help students in many ways. Petting a dog can reduce stress and anxiety, promote happiness, improve empathy, and calm students. Reading to a dog has been shown to improve fluency and boost confidence. Simply having a dog in a student’s presence while he/she is working can improve socialization and promote a calm and cooperative atmosphere. 

 

School pictures can be ordered online at mylifetouch.com using your child’s Picture Day ID EVTMBW7VV or by returning the paper order form with payment on Picture Day. 

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The Say Something Anonymous Reporting System allows students and families to submit secure, anonymous safety concerns to help someone who may hurt themselves or others. Since its adoption at Trottier Middle School, this reporting system has allowed our school-based team to help dozens of students get the support they need due to shared information. Please check out the Trottier website for more information and how to report any safety concerns.Say Something Link 

Trottier families:

If your child requires an inhaler, Epi-Pen, or other rescue medication to be kept in the health office, please be sure to send in appropriate orders (must be dated for this school year) along with the medication as soon as possible. 

Please reach out to the school nurse with any updates/concerns about your child.

A Message from the Health Office- Suicide Prevention Month

Suicide risk touches every setting—clinics, schools, workplaces, and homes. This live, interactive course gives you practical, evidence-based strategies to recognize warning signs, assess risk, and respond with confidence.

3.5 CEUs are available at no cost for health care professionals!

Substance use disorder often occurs alongside conditions like anxiety, depression, PTSD, or borderline personality disorder, creating a mix of symptoms that complicates diagnosis and treatment. Addressing both together is key.

Join us as we dive into the complexities of co-occurring substance use and other mental health disorders, explore treatment approaches, and provide answers to the most pressing questions about getting patients on the right track as quickly as possible.

Kevin, a corrections officer in Maine, went through a dark period that led to a suicide attempt. With the support of friends and co-workers, he recovered and was back on the job nine weeks later.

Now, he uses his experience with depression to connect with others—training new officers, joining a peer support group, and offering empathy rather than sympathy.

Public understanding of adolescent self-injury or “cutting” has grown, but misconceptions—including how common it is—remain. In reality, about 17% of adolescents and 15% of college students in the U.S. have self-injured at least once, with similar rates worldwide.

Many do it to feel better temporarily, and while most don’t intend to die, untreated self-harm can increase suicide risk. This article covers the truth about self-harm, warning signs, and strategies for support and treatment.

College students face unique pressures that can trigger anxiety, depression, substance use, and even psychosis. For parents and educators, early awareness and timely intervention can help prevent crises, such as academic failure, severe emotional distress, or suicidal behavior.

Explore our practical insights and tools designed to help you recognize warning signs and provide the support young adults need to thrive during these pivotal years.