Dear South Lake Community,
We are excited to launch a community read of The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt—a powerful and timely book that explores one of the most pressing issues facing young people today: the rising tide of anxiety, depression, and disconnection in our children and teens. As a school and community deeply committed to the well-being and growth of every student, we believe that engaging in this shared reading experience will help us better understand the complex challenges our kids face in today’s digital world—and how we, together, can support them.
Haidt’s work is grounded in extensive research and presents a compelling case that the widespread adoption of smartphones and social media has had profound and measurable effects on adolescent mental health. For example:
According to multiple large-scale studies, rates of depression and anxiety among teens began rising sharply around 2012—the same time that smartphone and social media use became nearly universal among young people.
Girls, in particular, have been deeply affected. Between 2010 and 2020, the rate of self-harm hospitalizations for adolescent girls in the U.S. more than doubled, a trend closely correlated with the rise in screen time and online social comparison.
Reading this book together as a community offers a unique opportunity to open dialogue between parents, caregivers, and educators—so we can listen, learn, and take meaningful steps to foster a healthier, more connected environment for our children.
We invite you to join us on this journey. You are welcome to pick up a free copy starting tomorrow, May 28th through June 5th in the South Lake front office. We will also have copies available at the start of next school year. Included below is a reading guide, which will also be posted on our website. We will also be hosting conversations hosted by our counselors, and creating space to explore how we can collectively raise a generation that feels confident, safe, and emotionally strong.
Also, please plan on attending one of our in-person South Lake Orientation to go over our schoolwide practices and specific South Lake Cares expectations so that we can partner together in ensuring both you and your student are set up for a successful year. The orientation will last about 45 minutes and will be held in the Multipurpose Room. At least one parent/guardian from every household is being asked to attend on ONE of the following dates/times:
Tuesday, August 19th at 8:20am
Tuesday, August 19th at 5:00pm
Wednesday, August 20th at 9:05am
Wednesday, August 20th at 5:00pm
Thursday, September 4th at 5:00pm
Lastly, be on the lookout for communications over the summer about re-registration and the start of the school year. Please save the date for our Shark Week orientation for both 7th and 8th graders on August 13th as well as our First family Shark Social.
We look forward to strengthening our positive school culture of shared responsibility, compassion, and action—for the good of our students and the future they deserve.
Warmly,
Belinda Averill
Principal, South Lake Middle School
