Local Junior High Recognized for Mental Health and Anti Bullying Work
On November 13, 2025 Copperas Cove ISD reported that S.C. Lee Junior High received recognition from the Caleb Cares Foundation for its anti bullying and mental health awareness efforts. The honor highlights school efforts during the district wide Paint the School Orange Week and matters to Coryell County families because it supports safer school climates and stronger peer support for students.
S.C. Lee Junior High was recognized on November 13, 2025 by the Caleb Cares Foundation for campus work promoting kindness, inclusion and mental health awareness. The Copperas Cove Independent School District reported that the campus organized a schoolwide parade and activities during the district program called Paint the School Orange Week to encourage peer support and reduce bullying. As part of the recognition program the campus submitted a video to the Caleb Cares Foundation and received a Chicago Bears jacket to display as a symbolic item celebrating the school commitment to a positive school climate.
School leaders credited counselors, staff and broad student participation with building a more welcoming environment. The activities aimed to normalize conversations about mental health and create visible opportunities for students to practice inclusive behaviors. For families in Coryell County that daily reality can mean students are more likely to seek help from trusted adults, and that incidents of exclusion and harassment are more likely to be noticed and addressed by the school community.
From a public health perspective the recognition underscores the role schools play as frontline settings for prevention and early intervention. Promoting mental health awareness and anti bullying practices can reduce stress, lower barriers to care and support academic engagement. Sustaining those benefits depends on ongoing access to trained counselors, partnerships with local mental health providers and district level policies that fund social emotional learning and staff time for prevention work.
The symbolic jacket and public recognition also have community significance. They offer a visible reminder that youth mental health is a shared responsibility across families, schools and local organizations. For policymakers and community leaders in Coryell County the event points to the need for equitable investment in school mental health resources, especially for students who face systemic barriers to care. Continued visibility and support for programs like Paint the School Orange Week can help reduce stigma, strengthen peer networks and contribute to safer, healthier schools across the county.
