J.W. Dodd Middle School seventh and eighth grade students gathered in the school’s gymnasium on May 10 to receive information about mental and physical health and wellness during the yearly Dodd Middle School Mental Health and Wellness Fair.
Held in May to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Month, this event hosted by the physical education and guidance staff, aims to emphasize the importance of mental wellness alongside physical health, as well as highlighting the abundant resources accessible within the Freeport school district and community.
“The mental health fair is such an important event to provide our middle school students with the opportunity to learn about maintaining their mental and physical health, but also empowers them with the knowledge and resources they need to navigate life’s challenges and thrive both inside and outside of the classroom,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kishore Kuncham.
As students attended the fair, they spoke with representatives from organizations including the Bridges Program - Yes Community Counseling Center, East Coast Creative Arts Therapy, Freeport Red Ravens and more.
“In our physical education classes, we emphasize the significance of mental and physical wellness to our students and remind them of the resources within our school district and the community,” said Stacie Guasto-Weaver. “We are so happy that the organizations we talk to our students about are willing to participate in our wellness fair and offer our students the chance to make connections and gain valuable information.”
In addition to local resources for students, there were also self-care areas throughout the gym where students could learn about activities that have a positive impact on their mental well-being.
Creativity stations including rock painting, making bead bracelets, coloring, and making a stress ball drew students who wanted to learn how to relieve stress and express their emotions in a new way. In addition, there were physical activity stations with dancing, cup stacking and playing Jenga and giant Connect-Four to demonstrate to students how moving your body helps support overall mental well-being.
J.W. Dodd Middle School would like to thank the local organizations and businesses who participated in this year’s Mental Health and Wellness Fair.