West Springfield CARE Coalition

09/09/2026

Join Operation Parent’s free, monthly webinars featuring child psychologists and prevention experts. Topics include teen anxiety, va**ng, social media, trauma-informed parenting, and more—designed to empower K‑12 caregivers and spark meaningful conversations.

09/08/2026

Parents & caregivers: What should you know about ni****ne pouches?

Products like ZYN are becoming more visible, but FDA authorization does not mean they are safe or “FDA approved.” Ni****ne is highly addictive, and young people should not use ni****ne products.

This is a good reminder to talk with your child about ni****ne, marketing, peer pressure, and the risks of addiction. You don’t need to have all the answers—starting the conversation matters.

Read more from CBS News:

One health advocate called ni****ne pouches a "profound risk" for young people.

09/04/2026

Did you know that Massachusetts has a support line that young people up to the ages of 24 years old can text for peer-to-peer confidential support? Since March of 2022, HeySam has supported thousands of young people across our state.
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Learn more: https://samaritanshope.org/our-services/hey-sam/

09/04/2026

09/03/2026

Prevention experts warn that ni****ne pouches like Zyn are easy to hide and hard to spot.

09/03/2026

🎒 Happy First Day of School West Side!

High school brings new classes, new people, more freedom, and definitely… more pressure to figure things out as you go.

A few things to keep in your back pocket this year:

🧠 Think for yourself. Just because everyone else is doing something doesn’t mean you have to.
💬 Know your people. Surround yourself with friends who respect your choices.
💪 Have a go-to response. “Nah, I’m good” is a complete sentence.
🎯 Keep your goals in sight. Don’t let one decision get in the way of something you’ve worked hard for.
🤝 Look out for your friends. Sometimes being a good friend means speaking up.

You don’t have to have high school all figured out on day one. Just make choices that help you get where you want to go.

Have a great first day, West Springfield! 💙📚

09/03/2026

Most cases involved children under 3 and happened at home, with gummies accounting for the vast majority of accidental ingestions.

09/02/2026

Ma*****na is becoming more available and stronger than ever. Use in the U.S. is on the rise. In Virtual Assistant, three friends get an unexpected warning from an eager virtual assistant about one of the many ma*****na health risks. To learn more about ma*****na, visit samhsa.gov/ma*****na or call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for 24/7 free and confidential information and treatment referral.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nDGVFujQ9A

Ma*****na is becoming more available and stronger than ever. Use in...

09/02/2026

09/01/2026

🍎✨ Good Food = Good Mood! ✨🍎

Hey, West Springfield families! 👋 We’ve got some delicious news to kick off the school year!

🥞 Breakfast? FREE!
🥪 Lunch? FREE!
🎉 Every student? YES!

West Springfield Public Schools is proud to provide one free breakfast and one free lunch every school day to every student. That means families can count on nutritious meals to help keep our students happy, healthy, energized, and ready to learn! 💪📚

👀 Want to see what’s cooking?

Check out https://wsps.nutrislice.com/menu to explore daily menus, information, and meal details.

Fuel up. Learn. Grow. Thrive!