Reality of What’s Happening in the Schools

This fall staff and students from 51 schools across Colorado attended eight B.I.O.N.I.C. Team Conferences exploring what B.I.O.N.I.C. could look like in their schools to empower students to reach out to their peers facing tough times. At the conferences we started off with each in attendance listing two things they are seeing in their schools – issues they are facing personally or their peers are facing. At our most recent conference last Wednesday it was an eye-opening experience AGAIN! Here are some of those things they listed (that we have heard over and over again this fall):

• There has been an increase of students who are dealing with homelessness this school year that has been overwhelming.
• Parents going through a hard divorce with the student being pulled between them.
• A student put into foster care in a new town – uncertain future – missing family – “I’m too stupid.”
• A student had to let her basketball teammates know that she needed to quit the team; she just had a child and can no longer play for the team.
• A student is feeling stressed and alone, not many friends.
• Local explosion caused death of pets and loss of four homes.
• Student’s father is going to Denver for her Dad to get a transplant.
• Multiple/several students are dealing with sexual harassment.
• Student is feeling misunderstood and not listened to by parents.
• Student just lost his Mom to cancer.
• Court date coming. A friend died and student might be charged with it.
• Two new students – both feeling confused – sad about the move.
• Death of a student.
• Student is struggling to meet graduation requirements because of health issues this year.
• Loss of life – suicide, accident.
• Student lost virginity and now the boy is telling everyone, and his friends are posting this on social media. She is also being harassed and threatened to be beaten up for this.
• Friends of staff members suicides.
• Parent just found out Dad has cancer and they are homeless.
• Multiple LGBTQ + identifying students are contending with a lot of issues with unsupportive environments.
• Drug addiction in homes.
• Domestic violence (child abuse).
• A parent makes a student sell pot to her friends.
• A student has to go to a very unhealthy, verbally abusive house two days a week.
• Students are struggling with their purpose.
• A fellow student’s friend committed suicide.
• Sibling was in a car accident – missed a week of school.
• A grandparent is in hospice care. Student is uncertain who will take him in next.
• Sexual and emotional harassment.
• Students without enough food for the weekend.

The 51 schools (public and private, traditional and online, plus Catholic and Christian) that attended the conferences want to start a B.I.O.N.I.C. Team in their schools to reach those who are hurting. Why do we do this work in B.I.O.N.I.C. – helping people say “Believe It Or Not I Care” with their lives? B.I.O.N.I.C. can help prevent suicides and even school shootings. Tomorrow on Colorado Gives Day all money raised for B.I.O.N.I.C. will help the 51 schools start B.I.O.N.I.C. Teams. It costs $500 for a school to start a B.I.O.N.I.C. Team, and the majority of schools did not budget that for this year. Most will have to do fundraisers – which they would rather spend that time on reaching the hurting. You have heard their cries. Anything you can give will help! https://www.coloradogives.org/BIONICTeam