1. Haverford Middle School
Student Wellness Initiative

2. Purpose and Plan
Student wellness issues are not only complex and interconnected, but they are critical to the health of our kids. We are committed to providing the necessary information and support that will enable our kids to learn and grow.
Adolescents need information about and support with:
Digital citizenship, social awareness and responsibility, and inclusion skills
Exercise, body image, and healthy eating habits
Depression, anxiety, stress, and suicide awareness
Tobacco, drug, and alcohol awareness and prevention
We want to provide a comprehensive, student-centered, and sustainable student wellness program that will meet the needs of our kids and their families.

3. Student Wellness Days
We commit our teaching and learning on four Act 80 Teacher In- service days to student wellness. Our instruction is student- centered, informative, interactive, educational, and designed to offer support and strategies for our kids. We offer a parent preview night before each Student Wellness Day. Parents have the opportunity to meet the guest speaker or representative, discuss the agenda for the day, and ask questions.

4. Student Wellness Days
We are connecting our teaching and learning from Student Wellness Days with our current curricula.
6th grade Developmental Guidance
7th grade Physical Education
8th grade Health
We have developed partnerships with the following community organizations and contacts to support our Student Wellness Days:
Haverford Township Police Department
Minding Your Mind
Lankenau Hospital
Haverford Alliance for Drug Awareness

5. Digital Safety & Awareness
October 31, 2016
Session 1 – Grade level guest speaker Officer Michael Flynn, The Haverford Township Police Department
Legal issues related to the inappropriate use of digital devices
Community expectations regarding digital devices
Session 2 – Team - Counselor led video and interactive discussion
Cyber-bullying
Session 3 – Homeroom teacher presentation
School wide expectations regarding digital devices
Team / teacher expectations regarding digital devices
Interactive conversation
Staff, student, and parent response

6. Digital Safety & Awareness Feedback
Parents
“Great Initiative!!!  Thank you!”
“Boy I don’t know…  Feels so new age to me. But then again I have an 11 year old with the discipline of a Marine because of his fear of failure…”
“This is so incredible.  I am so excited for Jack that he will get to experience this.”
Staff
Positive support
Appreciative of the consistent message in the school
Students
Pre/post test data – growth in understanding

7. Minding Your Mind January 13, 2017
Session 1 - Minding Your Mind guest speaker
Jon – 6th grade – Perfection
Melissa – 7th grade - Bullying
Drew – 8th grade – Stress
Session 2 - Team – Counselor led video and interactive discussion
Stress, anxiety, and depression
Session 3 - Breakout sessions led by teachers - Positive coping strategies
Art
Music
Exercise
Yoga
Team building

8. Minding Your Mind Feedback
Parents
“Both my 6th grader and my 8th grader actually had lengthy talks with me about this presentation. Thank you for bringing those young men to HMS to speak on such an important issue.   I can foresee the opportunity - and now the ability - to reference the talk, the individuals and the topic in many future conversations.”
“Thanks so much for offering this!  What a great idea, and the fact that the school is talking about this will help with the stigma that kids feel around these issues.  I'm sure that they will use these outlets in the future because you have introduced them at a young age.  Love it!”
“Thank you so much for having this at the school.  It's such a major part of these kids lives and it's wonderful that the school district cares about these kids as a whole and not just academics.”

9. Minding Your Mind Feedback
Staff
Enjoyed leading and participating with the kids
Appreciative and supportive that student wellness issues are being addressed
Students
Pre/post test – growth in understanding
Public and personal conversations

10. Mindfulness
February 17, 2017
Session 1 - Mindfulness Instructor guest speaker
Deb Cyb will present information and review mindfulness techniques that will be taught to each grade level
Session 2 - Mindfulness practice in the classroom
Classroom teachers will lead students in building and strengthening a culture of mindfulness in their classroom
Session 3 - Breakout sessions led by teachers – Practicing mindfulness techniques
Mindful listening, breathing, observation, and eating
Mindfulness of thoughts and emotions
Teacher training to bring basic mindfulness practice into classroom

11. Drug & Alcohol Awareness
May 19, 2017
Session 1 - Grade level guest speaker - Officer Michael Flynn, The Haverford Township Police Department
Legal issues related to the inappropriate use of drugs and alcohol
Community expectations regarding drugs and alcohol
Session 2 – Working with local groups for a team presentation
Session 3 – Breakout sessions led by teachers

12. Thank you for your support!