Connolly Fires Up for Student Health
Sophomores talk to school counselor Michael Prevost for the new Sophomore Wellness program.
Merja Connolly-Freund, director of wellness and physical education teacher, introduced Sophomore Wellness and Sage Connected online courses this year to the Sage Wellness program. Connolly describes the new program as a natural extension of Freshmen Wellness, in which ninth graders discuss wellness topics with community members and peer groups like SAME.
Each of the 15 online lessons address mental health, physical health and emotional health, or heart, as Connolly calls it. Each assignment is 20 minutes long, for a total of one hour each month. “It’s been amazing to read student’s responses and see students teach students,” Connolly said.
Connolly admits that the extra course will take time to get used to. “The intention truly hasn’t been to add more work,” she said. “It’s actually [about] stress management and getting enough sleep….so students just take the time to think about these topics.”
Junior Mckenzie Smith
Students watch a short video clip, write a discussion post and comment on another student’s post. For a recent lesson plan, titled “Power of Empathy,” students posted thoughtful comments on what it means to support a culture of empathy, as well as a direct response to a peer’s comment.
“I hope students see it as fun, current…If not, I’ll change it. I really want it to be student-based. My goal would be that it’s something people look forward to doing because it’s interesting and has fun things that make them laugh, and it’s kind of cool to hear what their peers say,” Connolly said.
She also partnered with Wellness Club, a service learning project devoted to advocating for student health. It was founded this year by sophomore club president Yi Chen. “[Club members] are TA’s within the course, and I’d like to see more of that happen. I’d like to see Environmental Club record a video and teach a lesson on sustainability…more peers teaching peers,” Connolly said.
Underclassmen must complete their Wellness course to receive mandatory P.E. credits. For the entire student body, there are also Wellness assemblies. They began Nov. 14 with drug, alcohol and body awareness assemblies.
For the next two meetings, Connolly planned less somber events. In January, the TNT Dunk Squad, an acrobatic basketball dunk show that performs regularly at L.A. Clippers games, will come to Sage. “It is meant to be fun and inspiring, and bring the whole school together,” Connolly explained. In April, seniors will attend a workshop on self-defense by Girls’ Win, and underclassmen will watch Taiko drummers to inspire creativity and the arts.
Connolly leads her students in a warrior pose stretch.
For now, she wants students to take better care of their mental, emotional and physical health. “The thing that worries me the most about our student population is the stress level and lack of sleep from taking hard classes,” Connolly said. “I know that we can do better and feel better. We can choose our health over pushing too hard.”
With her efforts, Connolly hopes to create a new school culture. “If you practice habits at school and have good discussions about it, it’ll help everybody once they get into college,” she said. “I truly believe that you don’t have much if you don’t have your health.”
