Readjusting, Reconnecting, and Rejuvenating: Reimagining Wellness Helping Ancaster High with Return to School
The beginning of any school year can be intimidating, but the beginning of a school year during a pandemic presents a whole new batch of challenges. Typically, HWDSB students and staff are readjusting to school after a couple summer months off. This year, folks are walking school halls for the first time since April.
“Being at home was very lonely. Coming back and seeing all these people was a lot at first. On the first day, I was exhausted,” said Jamie, a Grade 12 student at Ancaster High Secondary School. “Being able to take these breaks during class has definitely helped me get back into the swing of things.”
The “breaks” that Jamie is referring to are the Reimagining Wellness lessons and activities that are being incorporated into the school day. The welcoming, inclusive initiative addresses the needs highlighted during the school closures for COVID-19: the need for safety, routine, support, growth, community, and more.
Reimagining Wellness seems to be a hit with students thus far, with many already feeling the direct impacts. Classrooms were filled with students engaging with the lessons, and the same could be said about the grounds outside of Ancaster High. Students and staff were making the most of the nice weather by choosing to do their activities in the sun.
“You feel fresh and you’re actually ready to study or learn some more,” explained fellow Grade 12 student Gavin. “Take a step back, take a second to breathe and then go back in with a new mindset.”
Activities were drafted by a summer writing team of HWDSB staff and fit into three categories: Community & Team Building, Physical Activation and Social Emotional Skill Development. Within the categories, the weekly themes will cover personal and collective identity, understanding and managing emotions, self-care, collective empowerment and collective action.
These themes are important for any student after time away from the classroom, but they are especially valuable for Grade 9 students experiencing secondary school for the first time.
“The activities are helping me get to know the class better and feel more comfortable about the whole experience,” said Adrian, a Grade 9 student at Ancaster.
Adrian’s teacher in the new de-streamed Grade 9 mathematics course, Mr. Hendricks, shares that same feeling. He has found ways to incorporate numbers and fractions into his Reimagining Wellness activities, which has helped student feel more familiar with the material and with each other.
“It speaks to what we’re trying to do in the de-streamed classroom. We’re trying to create that group and make sure everyone brings their own experiences.”
For Mr. Hendricks, he hopes the foundation of Reimagining Wellness will remain in place in the future. It will at least be a part of his own classrooms for years to come.
“As de-streaming started coming up, we talked to a lot of teachers in open courses, such as drama. They said they do these sorts of activities all the time at the beginning of their courses to get to know everyone and I never did. I always just jumped into the math,” Hendricks explained. “For sure, it will be at the beginning of every course I teach. Hopefully it will be built in all the way through.”
Ms. Turner, a drama teacher at Ancaster, explained how seeing Reimagining Wellness programming in other classrooms has been a welcomed change.
“In drama, most of our activities are wellness-based because they’re collaborative, community-focused, and energizing,” she told us. “Seeing it happen in all sorts of classes is definitely nice. It helps the students connect with each other.”
In Ms. Turner’s class, students gathered in a circle on the school’s stage to participate in some of the Reimagining Wellness lessons and activities. The room was filled with laughter and joy during this afternoon class, a time when many students could feel tired and unenthused.
“I feel more energized and willing to work,” said Sam, a Grade 10 student in the drama class.
Being able to return to work with more energy is a wonderful benefit, but Reimagining Wellness is also aiming to serve a greater purpose. The initiative is being used to support student learning and achievement as well as mental health and well-being across HWDSB. School communities are coming together to readjust, reconnect, and rejuvenate.
“Last year, students felt isolated. People were nervous,” Ms. Turner explained. “This year, I can sense that students are feeling much better. It almost feels like a normal year. I can feel that a weight has been lifted off their shoulders.”
For more information, visit our Reimagining Wellness webpage.
Updated on Wednesday, September 22, 2021.