Elementary Schools Focus on Wellness

Similar to the high school's RRR Day, the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District's elementary school Wellness Day was a vibrant and interactive event focused on promoting physical health, mental well-being, and positive lifestyle habits among students.

Festivities were held on April 4th. The day was filled with engaging activities, laughter, and a shared commitment to well-being. According to Hillendale Elementary School's principal, Mr. Joshua Leight, "Student Wellness Day started in the 2019-20 school year at Hillendale just before the COVID-19 pandemic began. Mr. Michael Audevard, UCFSD's Director of Curriculum & Instruction, began the program with the Hillendale staff. Jenn Callinan, HES 4th grade teacher and principal intern this year, created our schedule this year. She intentionally solicited parent and community groups to share their expertise with our students. She did a phenomenal job!"

This year, students participated in a variety of movement-based exercises designed to get their bodies active and their minds engaged.

For example, the students practiced breathwork, dental hygiene, nutrition, spinal health, yoga, meditation, first aid, mental health, and much more! The children used this day as a creative outlet when they made zentangles, slime, pottery, and nature art. Teachers and staff joined in, leading by example and encouraging students to explore different ways to stay fit and focused. Wellness involves the awareness of our current state of health in multiple dimensions with the initiative, tools and support to make lasting changes towards a more optimal life in pursuit of the best possible health and well-being.

It's an overall balance of physical, social, spiritual, emotional, intellectual, environmental, and occupational well-being. Health is a goal one can achieve, while wellness is a dynamic concept that continues for a lifetime.

The student Wellness Day is built on the foundations of a Portrait of a Graduate. This portrait is a culmination of ideas that guides students from K-12 to be successful in their lives and community. A crucial segment of a Graduate's Portrait is one's ability to care for themselves; Wellness Day helps young students achieve this goal by being a positive outlet for unwinding. Together, elementary schoolers exemplified the UCFSD Portrait of a Graduate by taking care of themselves.

Overall, Wellness Day was a meaningful reminder that health is more than just physical fitness-it's about feeling good inside and out. The wellbeing of stressed-out students starts with the acknowledgement of the connection between mind and body. Energy and enthusiasm shared by students and staff alike made it clear: when we take care of ourselves and each other, we all thrive.