Submitted by Doran Muus
Upon the return to school this month, several tenth graders visited the Lower School to make snowflakes with the first graders and to talk about ways to handle tough times in school.
The visit was a part of a tenth-grade program that the Upper School Deans initiated this year when they noticed that students benefit from using stress-management strategies proactively. Dean Lisa Witter teaches the Upper School students to use specific tools to better handle stress when they hit a bump. As an example, Dean Lisa Witter told us of a recent hurried morning when she used one of those tools to make her smile again. She reminded herself of things she enjoyed, like her enjoyable job and her family, to get back into a positive frame of mind. The high school students each shared a strategy that worked for them when they needed to get into a better frame of mind. For example, one shared that he likes to say “Hakuna Matata” to himself when moments get rough, and it always makes him smile.
After they shared, the Upper School students sat with tables of children and helped them fold and cut their snowflakes while they chatted. The first graders talked about the things they loved with their classmates and their new Upper School friends, then wrote a reminding word on the snowflake. Some children spelled “family,” while others wrote “friends,” and others wrote, “dancing” or “soccer,” or “kittens.”
It was great to see the younger children learn about positive, “do-able”, self-management strategies from their older schoolmates. Adela said, “I liked it because we got to write down what made us happy.” The first-grade teachers added, “By helping each other stay positive, we build strong supportive classroom communities, and children learn better as a result! It’s a win-win for everyone.” Teachers and students alike enjoyed the visit and loved the message. Thanks to the tenth graders and Dean Witter for making it happen!
