Staying in our PRIME: Wellness Week at Greenwood

2/6/2017

Reid Macfarlane and Meg Farrell

Wellness Week fell on semestered exams this year, meaning it was more important than ever that students de-stress during the week.

From January 23-27, the Diversity Committee hosted seminars, speeches and activities that promoted wellness. Each day, we used a word from the acronym “PRIME” to emphasize a certain area of wellness:

Physical fitness
Rest and relaxation
Interpersonal relationships
Music as therapy
Environmental factors that promote wellness

Here is a recap of some of the amazing initiatives that were held during the week.

Monday, January 23 - Physical Fitness

We kicked off Wellness Week with a bang! The Grade 12 Executive Committee came together to write uplifting messages on coffee sleeves. The sleeves were then placed in the cafeteria. For example, my sleeve told me to enjoy my day, while my friend’s sleeve told her that she had a beautiful laugh. This gained traction around the school, and soon everybody was talking about how their coffee made them smile that morning. We also gave out blueberries at lunch to promote healthy eating and shared the health benefits of blueberries with students. Did you know that blueberries can help manage diabetes?

We also had special guest Kierston Drier come and speak with students about her initiative called the Bathroom Stall Project. Using anecdotes from her life, she spoke about how one little action can have massive implications. Her speech kicked off our tip jar initiative. Throughout the week, students wrote down nice things about other students and anonymously submitted them to a grade-wide jar. We broadcasted some of our favourites quotes on the televisions around the school daily.

Tuesday, January 24 - Interpersonal Relationships

Tuesday was all about fostering relationships between past Greenwood grads, current students and teachers. That day, we had Kate Farrell (‘14) come in and speak to Grade 11 and 12 students about her own experience with mental illness. She eloquently guided us through her struggles of her own illness, but also reminded students that mental illness does not define anybody. Thanks to Kate for coming in and sharing her story!

We also hosted Kahoots, which are online quiz competitions, for Grade 7 students. The goal of the Kahoot was to give a broad introduction to the stigma surrounding mental health and convey the importance of starting a conversation about mental illness, as opposed to disregarding its severity. Not only was it a fun competition, but we all learned something new about mental health that afternoon!

Wednesday, January 23 - Music as Therapy

Midway through Wellness Week, we encouraged students to open up the conversation about mental health by teaming up with the Jack Chapter at our school for Bell Let's Talk Day. That morning, we handed out pins and temporary tattoos at the door and played uplifting music to ensure a happy and bright start to the day. To further continue the conversation, we prepared a presentation for teachers containing facts and information about mental illness; teachers took students through the presentation and then did a small writing activity. This writing is going to be displayed around the school so people always know Greenwood is a safe and open environment!

Grade 12 executives also ran fun activities for students at lunch. This included the Arts Committee running therapeutic drawing and the Athletics Committee spearheading a basketball game in the gym. Both activities promote wellness, but in different ways.

Thursday, January 24 - Environmental Factors

We started the morning with the continuation of our Tip Jar initiative. Here’s one of our favourite quotes:

“Thank you for being so incredible. For a decade, you’ve always been able to make me smile.”

With short culminatings starting on Thursday, we provided resources to de-stress. During Lunch time we offered a meditation session, a quiet study space and a nap room. These rooms perfectly tied into our theme of the day, and showed how being in the right environment can put you in a calm state of mind.

Friday, January 25 - Rest and Relaxation

What better way to de-stress than visiting with some furry friends?! At lunch we were so lucky to have two therapy dogs, Marlowe and Lucy, come in and visit the students. They provided a bright highlight to a particularly stressful day and made excellent cuddle buddies. We also provided the same de-stress rooms we did on Thursday to ensure everyone felt relaxed.

Exams are an extremely difficult time, and it was so important to us to make sure no one lost their way to wellness. As a Diversity Committee, it was our aim to help everyone remain healthy and optimistic. Wellness is important year-round, and we hope to continue our work to help students and staff maintain a focus on wellness in their lives.

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Visiting with therapy dogs Marlowe (pictured) and Lucy was a highlight of Wellness Week for many students.

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Greenwood College School

443 Mount Pleasant Road
Toronto, ON M4S 2L8
Tel: 416 482 9811

We acknowledge with gratitude the Ancestral lands upon which our main campus is situated. These lands are the Ancestral territories of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Anishinabek and the Wendake. The shared responsibility of this land is honoured in the Dish with One Spoon Treaty and we strive to care for the land, the waters, and all creatures in the spirit of peace. We are responsible for respecting and supporting the enduring presence of all First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. When away from this campus we vow to be respectful to the land by protecting and honouring it. We will create relationships with the people and the land we may visit by understanding the territories we enter and the nations who inhabit them.