The physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being of our Middle School students was the focus of our Wellness Focus Talk last week.
The Middle School years can be difficult for many children who are going through physical, emotional and developmental changes. The pressure, stress and expectations for their academic performance from home and school, and the unanticipated challenges of the pandemic can be additional anxieties our Middle Schoolers must process. So much has happened in the world since last year. This group of Middle Schoolers have a lot on their plate besides growing up! How can we as adults help our students navigate these times?
Clairbourn’s small class sizes allow us to provide individualized learning and wellness coaching. Our faculty can focus and work with each individual child and provide specific support. Learning to process stress in a positive way is a skill we help our students develop. Teachers talk to students about their wellness on a daily basis, and also practice activities that help the students release their anxiety and stimulate their personal wellness at the same time.
In Mrs. Drazic’s Middle School language class, students did a wellness activity called “Passing the Cup” to build connections with their peers. Students sat in circles of 10 and each group received a cup of water filled to within ½ inch of the brim. They needed to pass the almost-filled cup to one another without spilling the water, with and without their eyes closed. Mrs. Drazic then asked, “What do we have to pay attention to so the water does not spill? Was it harder to pass around the cup without spilling with eyes closed rather than open? Did you want to peek? Did you giggle?” The observation from the students was: When we could see, we looked at the cup and made sure the next person was ready and we needed to move slowly and carefully. Passing around the cup with eyes closed required us to pay much closer attention to the task. We had to monitor ourselves to ensure we were ready, but also pay attention to one another much more closely.
Students discussed what they should be monitoring in themselves, such as attitudes, nonverbal behaviors, frustrations. They also discovered what they should be “tuning into” with others, such as openness, emotions, attitudes, and behavior. Students learned how to be more aware of each other and understood themselves a bit better. In order to work cooperatively in any relationship – with friends, classmates, parents – we have to monitor ourselves and “tune in” to another person’s experience. It’s a balancing act!
Clairbourn arranged a two-day Wellness Focus session for our Middle School students with Dr. Marguery Lyvers . Students from six to eighth grades talked freely with Dr. Lyvers about their anxiety. One student shared that not doing well for exams caused the most stress, and another student described pressure as “thunders pounding on the chest.” After several successful rounds of discussions, students wrote down their biggest worries on a piece of paper and were then asked to toss it away. There was no need to think about their worries anymore. Dr. Lyvers concluded by discussing different strategies to manage the pressure to do well at school and home.
We understand raising a healthy child is a team effort between family and school. Dr. Patzlaff, Head of School, and Mrs. Taylor, Assistant Head of School, joined Dr. Lyvers and met with parents virtually. The parents learned how to detect different emotional states of the child and how to give them the support they need. Important take aways for the parents were, “How your child responds to stress determines your response” and “If you see stress in your child, check your own feelings before responding”.
Besides physical health, Clairbourn cares deeply for the other vital aspects of wellness — social, spiritual, intellectual, and emotional. We are committed to nurturing well-rounded children. We know growing up is not always easy and Middle School can be hard, but it doesn’t have to be. After all, Middle Schoolers are “Learning everyday who they are, how to engage in their world, and how to grow into their best selves”, says Dr. Amy Patzlaff, the Head of School at Clairbourn. In our Clairbourn family, the caring and experienced faculty coaches each student; our school creates a supportive environment where each student can grow and develop to their full potential. We hear each of your voices and we are here for you. Together, we are stronger. Together, we are Clairbourn!