Three Rivers Local Schools’ Wellness Team used grant funding to add and enhance mental health, social emotional learning, and social connectedness-related programming for students throughout the 2023-34 school year.
Megan Rivet, assistant superintendent of teaching and learning for the district, says their approach is all about keeping kids connected and healthy, mentally and physically.
Buddy Club brings together older & younger students
For the second year, the district partnered with Holistically Empowering All Teens (HEAT) through HEAT’s Teen Mentoring/Mind Over Matters program. High school seniors went through four weeks of training, then mentored seventh-graders in weekly small group sessions, called the Buddy Club.
Megan emphasizes that kids in middle school often need extra support and it can help to have someone besides an adult to talk with.
At the end of the school year, the Buddy Club’s mentors said they appreciated getting to know the younger students and hearing their stories; connecting with them and having a positive influence on them; and “learning that everyone has different challenges but we can still connect and be friends.” Seventh-graders said they “learned new information to help me navigate life,” and they found their mentors to be relatable.
Afterschool clubs create a culture of connection
Three Rivers’ elementary and middle school principals are passionate about making sure that every single student is involved in some type of extracurricular activity. A variety of afterschool clubs help make this possible.
Fishing Club is very popular. Other clubs include art, chess, creative writing, games, robotics, and ukulele.
Megan says the principals are creating a positive culture with the afterschool clubs. Their goal is to make it fun and to make kids love school. “The clubs get students connected and motivated. They help students build friendships. And all of this is fun and free, or at only a nominal cost.”
Speakers bring inspiring, practical messages to students
The Wellness Team sponsored guest speakers, including Nick Jackson, who led sessions centered on the message of kindness. Nick is a dynamic speaker on character education who really connected with students by telling his life story.
Steve Smith from A Wired Family also visited the schools to talk to students in grades 4-12 about the dangers of social media and the disconnect between what you do behind a screen versus face to face. He also did a parent presentation that was made available online, so even those unable to attend could benefit from this valuable information.
Megan says programs like this are especially needed because the pandemic resulted in young students losing some social skills, including the skill set needed to talk to other kids face to face.
Connecting through cooking classes
New Leaf Kitchen provided afterschool cooking activities, including a family cooking class at Addyston’s VFW Hall. Participants made salad and ravioli to take home to bake.
While this program obviously focused on teaching cooking and nutrition, Megan points out that it also served as a time and space where neighbors were able to come together and connect with one another.
And more…
- History of Cincinnati field trips: High school students taking a history of Cincinnati course got to go on field trips to places such as the Reds Hall of Fame Museum. Megan says this was a unique experience for some kids who have never been downtown or wouldn’t be able to afford experiences like this.
- 1N5 Sources of Strength: The district has participated in this program for years. It involves student leaders running various mental health campaigns throughout the year.
- 7 Mindsets: Three Rivers Local School District uses this curriculum that nurtures positive mindsets and mental health, while fostering a supportive and thriving environment of belonging and connection.
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