On February 28th, Fallston High School had its first ever Cougar Wellness Day. What is Cougar Wellness Day, you ask? It’s a chance for students to take a break from the typical school day and have fun by choosing from an endless list of activities such as making eco-friendly tote bags with Mrs. Montero, mixing art and science with the McLeods, or playing basketball with Mr. Rychwalski and Mr. Hulka, and much more.
Students were able to self-select two activities, whether they wanted an intense game of volleyball with Mrs. Grant and Mr. Patrick in the main gym or something more laid back like creating 3-D printing designs with Mr. Chatterton. Some activities like 3-D printing allowed students to learn skills that could be useful in the future. Evan Chacona said that “[Wellness Day] made [him] feel good because [he] was able to learn valuable skills like how to work a 3-D printer and learn how different components affect the overall designs.”
Students also learned new wellness practices they plan to implement into their daily life. Kaylee Dillard decided to do daily physical activities with her friends as she saw that playing basketball with them was a source of relaxation after the long week of school. Sessions that were a hit and were a favorite among the students were of course the sports: pickleball, volleyball, and basketball.
With April upcoming, along with the warmer weather, students hope for more outdoor-based activities for the next Wellness Day. Students like Morgan Rosenthal hopes that choices like “soccer on the field or spike ball” will be available on the next Wellness Day so she can “spend time outside while having fun with [her] friends.” Another student, Josh Atha, suggests that ultimate frisbee would be “fun and pretty cool to join.”
Teachers also enjoyed the day of relaxation away from their to-do list and are even more excited to prepare for the next one. Mr. McLeod plans to host a hiking session outside, explaining how it’s a great time to go on “a nature hike around the school and see some little animals and birds.”
Those who enjoyed Mrs. Montero’s crafty session making eco-friendly tote bags can expect to be making loom bracelets, body scrubs, and much more. Not only is it a great time to relax and get away from the regular school environment, but it is also a way for teachers to interact with students in a different role instead of “it being all academics,” Mrs. Montero explained.
Mr. Bellamy describes it as “a great day to be able to connect with students outside of an academic learning setting, and a situation where [everyone] [is] trying to find relaxation and wellness, which is good for everyone.”
Overall, Wellness Day turned out to be a huge success among the student body and definitely exceeded our expectations. It was a refreshing opportunity for students to step away from the demands of schoolwork and focus on their well-being. Wellness Day not only allowed students to relax and recharge but also allowed them to explore new skills that they could use. The Cougars plan to hold the next Wellness Day on April 16, hoping to deliver an even better experience for students to enjoy and remember.
