Health Week

Health Week is almost here!! From November 3-6, students will engage in quality workshops led by community members and staff in an exploration of how to maintain a healthy self and a healthy community. The presenters will talk about a variety of issues, covering subjects that we feel are important for all students to know. Realizing that students' knowledge and curiosities will differ, we have tried to make the content appropriate to age and experience.  Moreover, we have tried to enlist speakers who will talk openly and honestly with students, who will engage students' participation, and who will be sensitive to the subjects that they present.

Day 1: A Healthy Self: Learning to Free Ourselves from Stress, Anxiety, and Depression

Workshops presented by area health practitioners and educators will take place throughout the morning, focusing on identifying stressors and symptoms of stress and how to reduce and deal with stress in our daily lives. Workshops will range from "Beating Stress with Healthy Decisions", and "Learning is a Whole Body Event"  to yoga and tai chi classes, herbal medicine instruction, a conversation about eating disorders and a look at tensions that arise in female relationships.

In the afternoon, African dance instructor Chelsea Agee will lead us in an all school dance accompanied by live drumming! 

Day 2: Taking Action to Build A Healthy Community

Students will gather in action teams to take on personal and community health challenges to make a difference in their own lives and in the lives of others. Students will choose to join one of the following action teams: Real Life Organic Farming, GMO Action Team, Localvore Project, Cooking Healthy Lunch, Hands-On Healing, The Food-Mood Connection, Stress Management, and Bringing Meditation Into Your Life. We will gather as a school to share our learnings and plans for action and then enjoy a healthy lunch together.

In the afternoon, we will be inspired by the film "The Vision of Wangari Maathai" with filmmaker Lisa Merton. (Wangari Maathai was a Nobel Peace Prize winner for her work in Kenya with the Green Belt Movement.)

Day 3: Shout it Out: Making a Difference through Self Expression

            We will have the honor of viewing The Voices Project's new film, Shout It Out in a special screening with the director, Bess O'Brien. Afterwards, guided by O'Brien, we will break out into writing groups to express our own voices. 

In the afternoon, we will enjoy "Because I'm With Them. . .." a performance by ActingOut, a

student improv group from Keene, NH. They will perform an interactive theater piece dealing with peer pressure of all kinds and both positive and negative effects including choices around alcohol, sex, fashion, bullying, defying authority or creating community.

Day 4: Understanding Gender Expectations and Realities

Students and teachers will spend some time in separate gender groups, talking about the experience of being female and being male. We will then gather together as a whole school to share some of our insights and celebrate one another.

In the afternoon, we will engage in playful physical exercise to close out the week.

Please note that Health Week is meant to be a community-building week and a springboard for further discussion, learning, and workshops throughout the year. It is by no means all-inclusive of every topic that we wish to cover in our health and wellness curriculum. We welcome your suggestions for keeping the spirit and learning of Health Week alive throughout the year.

School will be dismissed at 2:15pm during Health Week.

If you have any questions or concerns about Health Week please contact Janet or Lauren.