2 minute read
Focus on Student Wellness
Focus On Student Wellness
By Lee-Anne Black, editor
THE WELL-BEING of our students is core to their abilities to lead healthy, productive, and joyful lives both now and far beyond their time at Country Day. A Student Wellness Committee, comprised of 50+ members of nearly every constituent group, was established last school year to help lead efforts in this important work, which began with collecting baseline qualitative data related to student wellness. The surveys were designed to help us determine two fundamental touchpoints around student wellness—what brings joy in a student’s school day and what causes stress or anxiety?
— Mark Reed, Head of School
“We also want to make sure we are doing everything we can in terms of prevention and response when it comes to student wellness.”
The rise in social/emotional, mental, and physical health issues affecting today’s children is not unique to our school. According to the Pew Research Center, 70% of U.S. teens see anxiety and depression as a major problem among their peers. “I see Country Day, as a leader in education, tackling these challenges in intentional and innovative ways,” explained Mark.
Faculty Education
The opening of this school year began with the full faculty taking part in a work session with Dr. David Gleason, clinical psychologist and author of "At What Cost? Defending Adolescent Development in Fiercely Competitive Schools." Dr. Gleason led a workshop that helped our faculty better understand a common bind inherent among independent schools internationally. That bind being that we all want so much for our children that we overschedule, overwork, and at times, overwhelm our children.
The workshop allowed our faculty to consider our school culture and the unintended role adults play in creating stressors for our children. Our faculty takes great pride in both the educational and nurturing environment they create for our students and they are eager to continue making shifts in thoughtful ways that balance rigor and wellness. Dr. Gleason also spoke with parents in November.
In the year ahead, the Student Wellness Committee and school leaders will analyze the data collected in the student surveys, along with other resources, as we move toward plans to improve the student experience.
THANK YOU A small planning committee joined Mark Reed in organizing and developing plans for the larger Student Wellness Committee’s work: JG Bailey, Samantha Bosco, Janani Buford, Rebecca Patterson, Caroline Robicsek, Scott Waybright, and Brian Wise. We are thankful for their support and dedication.
