Working Together
On Thursday, October 24, twenty Saint Patrick parents joined Head of School Lauren Mazzari, Director of Studies Jan White, Lower School Counselor Shana O'Boyle, Middle School Counselor Dan Batkin, and Lower School Teacher representatives Raelyn Baumgartner, Teresa Tenney, and Jessica Horner, for a collaborative session focused on developmentally driven discussions. The group centered around strategies to improve students mental health and well-being in relation to social media and cell phone use that are addressed in Dr. Jonathan Haidt’s book The Anxious Generation.
The discussions covered a range of topics, including the importance of increased independence and unstructured play which encourages healthy risk-taking. Participants also explored the need to change societal narratives around anxiety, consider appropriate alternatives to smartphones for middle schoolers, and educate children on establishing healthy habits and boundaries with technology.
Together, parents and staff brainstormed actionable ideas to implement Haidt's solutions to support the physical and mental wellness, resiliency, and confidence of our Wolfhounds. One Second Grade parent thanked the faculty and staff “for the great discussion and suggestions. It is very comforting that we have each other and the school to prepare our children for a happy and successful future.” A Fifth Grade parent echoed these sentiments by saying the morning’s session was “wonderful, and I am incredibly appreciative that the school is putting attention and resources to this issue.”
We appreciate the input of our Wolfhound community and are excited to find that parents are ready to step up and take the lead on some of the actionable ideas discussed that included:
- A pledge to wait until Eighth.
- Facilitating parent groups to encourage and support Let Grow opportunities.
- Coordinating neighborhood gatherings for multi-age level unstructured play and The Bike Bus Movement.
