At the Sept. 21 Catasauqua Communities That Care meeting, members heard five options for the group’s new vision statement.

These options came out of the last meeting, where members got together to brainstorm ideas. This work is part of an effort to cultivate a fully developed communication plan. The communication plan is a priority for the group, identified from the recent coalition checkup feedback report.

Members were asked to take time and carefully consider the options before voting for their favorite.

It was then mentioned students will be taking the Pennsylvania Youth Survey this year. The anonymous survey will be administered to grades 6, 8, 10 and 12. The results will be tabulated and compiled into data the CTC will use to plan for the future.

In addition, it was noted students in fourth grade will also be taking the PAYS as a pilot. Those results will not be included in the final report.

According to Amy Dymond-Jones, Catasauqua Middle School counselor and CTC coordinator, they are also implementing the PASS program Oct. 4-15. PASS - Positive Approach to Student Success - is intended to manage the behavior of students identified as behaviorally at risk.

Reports were in for the Life Skills class from the last year. Credit was given to the teachers who implemented the training for the high-quality level of education from Denise Continenza, a Penn State Extension educator and one of the group’s coordinators.

Life Skills training for the 2021-22 academic year is slated to begin in November at Catasauqua High School. It will also be offered in the wellness and fitness classes at CMS.

Regarding the group’s focus on strengthening students’ emotional well-being, Dymond-Jones talked about how CMS is introducing the Start With Hello program, which works to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students.

It was also reported they are on track for an October implementation of the Blues Program at CHS. The Blues Program teaches high school students who have depressive systems, or who are at risk of onset of major depression, how to apply healthy behaviors to their own lives.

The CHS students are also going to have QPR training, which will help them recognize signs of those at risk for suicide or other threats.

The new Roughie Pantry at CHS is reportedly a success. There is not only food, but toiletries and other personal care products. Dymond-Jones questioned when the closet can reopen at CMS with extra clothes and other supplies for students who need it.

Continenza reported Whitehall Area Rotary Club wrote a grant that, if awarded, would provide funds for the club to purchase winter coats for students in the community who need them. She noted they can also help Catasauqua students if the club gets the grant funding.

It was mentioned the community can be utilized to help give donations of necessary supplies. Bill Nothstein suggested the coalition should create a flier with important details and hand it out during important community events, such as Autumnfest and the Mrs. Nothstein’s Helping Hands Fund craft fair, planned for November.

The CHS Interact Club partnered with Whitehall Area Rotary to make cards and deliver Boxes of Thanks for emergency responders in Catasauqua and North Catasauqua Sept. 11.

The next Catasauqua CTC meeting is scheduled 2:30 p.m. Oct. 19.