Starting the Day off Right

In a new concept for Mental Health and Wellness Week this year, RSGC staff and students Started the Day off Right. In the Junior School, boys spent the first period of the day meditating, sleeping in, playing outside, eating a healthy breakfast or engaging in a workshop on stress and anxiety. In the Senior School, the boys chose from activities like sleeping in, yoga, fitness, dog therapy, work time in the library, massage, breakfast or meditation.
The concept came from a series of conversations between the boys, the guidance team and physical education teacher Adrian Thornbury. 
 
“We wanted to give the students and staff an experience of self-care,” said Dean of Students David Fitzpatrick. “Rather than having people tell us how to take care of ourselves, we wanted to run activities where we could actually take care of ourselves.”
Over the five-day period, the guidance team asked the boys what they learned and how they may have benefitted. The hope is that they can find a way to sustain it in the future. 

The week still included a focus on mental health. School social worker Andrea Kaye ran lunchtime workshops on topics including depression, anxiety and substance abuse, but adding the morning activities created a better balance between mental health and wellness. 

“People loved the idea of starting their day the way they chose, in a way that is stress reducing, not stress inducing,” said Mr. Fitzpatrick. 

Here is what some boys said about Starting the Day off Right: 

James Newall, Grade 9: I went to work in the library. It was great to get work done in the morning, so I can work ahead on projects and assignments, and I don’t have to worry about it after school. 

Spencer Chapple, Grade 10: I did yoga. It felt so good and relaxing. Your muscles just feel better, so the rest of your day feels better. 

Jack Day, Grade 11: I started off playing basketball in the gym. It was a really good start to the day – it helped me wake up. I felt like I was a lot more prepared for period one. Usually it takes me 20 minutes to wake up, but this way, I felt like I could get into it right away.

Owen Holland, Grade 12: I chose to have a healthy breakfast in Ketchum Hall because I wanted to start the day off right and I was able to do it in my second home. 

Robbie Bruce, Grade 12: I was chilling and hanging with dogs. What a fun, happy way to start the day! 
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