Dear ARHS families,

I am writing to share a brief but important resource related to teen gambling - particularly sports betting - which is an issue that is becoming increasingly worrisome for adolescents nationwide and which we are seeing at ARHS. As access to online betting platforms has expanded and sports wagering has become more visible and normalized, schools and families are seeing a corresponding rise in youth exposure and participation. Ahead of major sporting events such as the Super Bowl, this risk can be especially high.

To support families in better understanding this issue, our partners at Encompass, Emily Tylek and Dr. Safdar Medina, created a short (approximately 10-minute) Q&A screencast focused specifically on youth sports betting. In the video, Dr. Medina explains why this trend is concerning, how adolescents are being drawn into betting behaviors, and what parents and caregivers should be aware of. You can view the screencast here.

I encourage you to take a few minutes to watch and to share this resource with anyone you think might benefit from learning more about this topic. Awareness and early conversation are critical steps in prevention.

Thank you, as always, for your partnership and for your continued support of our students’ well-being.

Sincerely,
Sean Bevan
Principal, Algonquin Regional High School