The Green and Gold - Wellness Advisors

Wellness Advisors - Interview with Ms. Kessler and Ms. Merrill

By Arlo Shilling and Desi Broadley

Recently, Desi and I had the pleasure of speaking with Brittnay Merril, our newly titled wellness coordinator, and Jessica Kessler on topics such as the wellness space, student mental health, and resources for students and staff. Other resources the school is working with as part of its wellness program include visits from health professionals for students to meet with/ There will be 8 available slots for students to sign up for an appointment, whether you need a general physical or something more specific. An additional clinician will be coming in to provide therapy for students once a week, in addition to Ann, the Chester-Andover elementary school nurse, who will be making weekly visits to check in.

The wellness staff have been working hard to provide a variety of resources for students, such as the popular in-school thrift store, plus access to shampoo, conditioner, soap, and the option to take a private shower at school. Donations are appreciated! Personal hygiene commodities are available and discreet for student comfort. A school-wide movement has been made to prioritize student mental health and provide resources that put student comfort first. When asked about reasons why students might feel stressed, Ms. Kessler says stress is common among students for a variety of reasons. They could feel stressed or anxious due to relationships, school work, or their academic performance, relations with teachers, family dynamics, their home life, addiction, or their mental health. Ways to combat these feelings when at school are to take a break when you need one, which is why the wellness space is available. Take a breather and quietly enjoy a puzzle, fidget toys, drawing, or journaling, no matter if you're a student or staff member.

The wellness space has so far been a success and is getting good use. Our interviewees said there have already been 192 visits to the space since the start of the year! Most of that has been middle school, but this space is for everyone, and we encourage our high school peers to visit. Open full-time now, it is easily accessible for 10 minutes at a time, and more time can also be allotted. Since this is a space made to be improved over time by the community, student feedback is encouraged! Wellness staff want to know how they can make the space most comfortable and positive for students. They recommend that all students give it a try because that is what the space is for! Both students' mental and physical health needs to be in balance. Advice for managing time in schools is to use advisory time for work, going to homework club after school, and meeting after school with teachers whose work or class may be giving you trouble. It is good to always keep in mind that maximizing your use of time at school will be beneficial, as well as knowing the amount of work you can do comfortably without getting burnt out or doing too little. Keep it simple!

Just as important as it is for staff to support students, it is also important that students do their best to support the staff as well. By supporting teachers and other adults in the school community, students help create an environment that makes it easier for themselves to learn and for the teachers to effectively teach. Some ways that students can help support teachers and staff include participating in class, coming prepared, showing appreciation for their efforts, offering constructive feedback, and overall being thoughtful and respectful, as the staff work hard to ensure students can be successful.

When asked about how physical health impacts mental health and academic performance, Ms. Kessler and Ms. Merrill explained that the two are connected and that improving one significantly improves the other. Good physical health supports good mental health as it helps reduce stress and anxiety levels. As a result, students are better able to concentrate and obtain information. Effective ways to maintain good physical health include regular exercise, adequate sleep, proper nutrition, and taking care of yourself when you are sick or injured. These habits are crucial for achieving success in school and beyond, as well as maintaining overall wellness. In turn, mental health can affect physical health as well, as failing to get rest, nutrition, and exercise can increase stress and anxiety levels and result in poor academic performance. The wellness center is available to help students and teachers maintain good mental health so that everyone can be successful here at GM.

Stop by the wellness space if you have a chance, and many thanks to Ms. Kessler and Ms. Merrill!

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