WASHINGTON COUNTY (KFSM) -- Ozark Catholic Academy would be the first Catholic high school in the area. Right now the school is still in the planning phase, but the goal is to start classes in the fall of 2018.

Currently, there are two catholic schools in Northwest Arkansas that each run through the eighth grade.

Head of School John Rocha said they are considering building the high school in Springdale or Tontitown to accommodate the area.

“That's kind of the key to our situation is to see where potential land donors may be where we can root ourselves maybe on a small track of land maybe three to 10 acres and possibly grow from there,” Rocha said.

Rocha said they are planning to start with a freshmen class and possibly a sophomore class.

“The seventh graders now would ultimately be the sophomores and we need to make sure they are interested in possibly moving after one year of high school to the Catholic school,” Rocha said.

He's also looking to hire an assistant headmaster and forming relationships with existing Catholic schools.

The principal of St. Joseph Catholic School in Fayetteville, Jason Pohlmeier, said he's excited his students will be able to continue learning in a Catholic environment.

St. Joseph Catholic School goes from kindergarten to the 8th grade and Pohlmeier said he looks forward to working with the high school as one system, so his students are prepared for the ninth grade.

“That we can work on that alignment that goes all the way through our buildings in creating a smooth transition instead of trying to move from our Catholic school system to another system with a different approach to learning then we have in the Catholic schools,” Pohlmeier said.

St. Vicent De Paul is the other Catholic school in Northwest Arkansas with grades kindergarten through eighth grade.

Ozark Catholic Academy will be an independent Catholic high school which means it will align itself with the Diocese of Little Rock with the approval of the Bishop, but it will not be financially supported by the diocese.

ARKANSAS, USA — We are less than two weeks away from the start of a new school year in Arkansas, and students’ mental health is top of mind.

Mental health issues affect both student wellness and overall school safety, and it was a key part of school safety recommendations turned over to the governor earlier this week.

In its preliminary report, the state's School Safety Commission recommends expanding youth mental health training to all people interacting with students, not just school counselors. Members also stress the importance of giving all students equal access to mental health care, whether that’s in person or through Telehealth.

“Presently, access to mental health services for our students is inconsistent across our schools in Arkansas. The school is often the only resource for Telehealth, for mental health services that can be provided to a student,” Governor Asa Hutchinson said.

According to the CDC, more than 40% of teenagers state that they struggle with persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. And as kids return to school, Dr. Kevin Stephens says it’s important for teachers and parents to look out for kids who are struggling.

“If their grades have fallen for some unexpected reason, that’s a really good tip-off that something may be going on, if the child is withdrawn, if the child is having fights and disputes with other kids, and they seem to be ostracized and isolated,” said Kevin Stephens Sr., the chief medical officer for the Midsouth Region United Healthcare.

Stephens emphasizes the importance of parents or caretakers being transparent with kids about mental health.

“Once you expose your vulnerabilities, that opens a door to let your child expose their vulnerability,” Stephens said. He suggests that getting professional help is always an option.

“Don’t be isolated, and talk, look, listen, and reach out a hand to others, and I find when we all do that, this will be a much better place for us and our children,” Stephens said.

In another attempt to increase mental health assistance, the Biden Administration awarded funding to expand mental healthcare services in schools just this past week.

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