SPECIAL REPORT ON PRIVATE EDUCATION Keeping cool WELLNESS PROGRAMS HELP STUDENTS CONTROL STRESS LEVELS D ENISE D EVEAU aware of indicators around stress or frustration levels. t’s generally acknow- “We do a lot of breathing exer- ledged that today’s kids cises and start the day with a are under a tremen- mindful meditation moment dous amount of stress. to prepare them for their day. IMuch of that is rooted in the Students learn at an early age demands and hectic pace of that they need to find mo- their lives relating to school ments of quiet and calm in an and extra-curricular activ- increasingly busy world.” ities, says Todd Cunningham, Susan Elliott, executive dir- assistant professor and clin- ector of the learning forum, ical psychologist at OISE (On- the support services depart- tario Institute for Studies in ment at TFS in Toronto, says Education) in Toronto. another contributor to stress “There are lots of general is the barrage of digital infor- stressors in their lives. But as mation kids have to process kids go higher up in school, today. “Sometimes they have demands from parents, teach- to sit and process that infor- ers and peers for high per- mation to sort out what’s real formance increases. There is or not real.” a lot of pressure being put on She says health and well- teens to compete at such a ness is a core pillar of the high level to get 80s and 90s school’s programs. “Kids all the time. Then there is the learn about the brain, what peer effect. They will text each stress is and how to process other to see who is staying up emotions before they act. the latest on a project. It’s a It’s complex for them. Some social status thing.” stress is good, like when you Private schools can in- are getting ready for a basket- crease the pressure because ball game. But you need to the benchmarks are that know what the optimum level much higher, he adds. “Every- of stress is, and how to man- one is at a super high level. age stress overload.” If you are at the lower end Part of the wellness tool kit of distribution at a private is teaching kids at all levels school, in any other context mindfulness and breathing you would be an A student. exercises. Many activities are But now you’re being com- also built into the classroom pared to more A students so so they can pace their day. kids feel they have to do more On Fridays, younger kids and work harder. I hear that end the week doing activities every day.” like origami or yoga. Senior Ultimately, he says, this school students get longer is not a healthy way of life. lunches so they can take part “Kids don’t have a chance to in clubs and activities. “By decompress. They literally building these into the sched- don’t know what it feels like ule, they don’t have such a to be relaxed. They don’t long day,” Elliott says. know what a calm state is any J.T. MCVEIGH / POSTMEDIA Another tool is a men- more.” From meditation to dance, private schools are offering more ways for children to toring program in which a Cunningham believes well- relieve the stresses posed by a busy day of classes. small group of students get ness programs in schools are together to talk about issues vital. “It’s not worth pushing tional well-being in the earlier They need to understand high school years. “Knowing and work through them with to be at these levels if there years. who they are as people, what someone is advocating for a designated mentor. “This are long-term health implica- “Universities are really matters to them, and what them, and they are account- is all part of what they need tions. You don’t want them to struggling to cope with the are their strengths and weak- able to that person, gives to do when they leave here,” get to Harvard and burn out number of students experi- nesses so they can become them opportunities to ad- Elliott says. “They have to the first year because they encing mental health chal- good self-advocates. They dress a whole range of well- learn that you can’t solve pushed so hard.” lenges. We now recognize learn that asking for help can ness initiatives,” Kline-Beber problems in a minute.” The York School in Toronto that we have an opportunity be a sign of strength. It’s the says. “Through regular group David Hanna, director is one of many that has put to have a positive impact on way to assert what you need meetings they learn that it’s of university counselling at student wellness front and mental health at the junior, in this world and making sure okay to slow down a bit, and The York School, says cop- centre. Its director of well- middle and high school lev- you know how to get that.” that time spent talking with ing with stress and anxiety is PRIVATE SCHOOLS PRIVATE ness, Elissa Kline-Beber, is els.” Among a number of in- each other and not doing is part of life. “We can’t protect playing a key role in helping That means creating a nur- itiatives, York has a formal- also valuable.” kids from reality. Kids need to students, teachers and par- turing environment in which ized adviser program to en- Even in junior grades, learn, communicate and be ents recognize the need for students can develop coping sure that every student has there is a focus on equipping flexible. If that starts in child- support for their children’s skills, Kline-Beber says. “Kids a specific adult who is their children with problem-solv- hood, they can do anything physical, mental and emo- need to know themselves. go-to person throughout their ing skills and learning to be they want.” tool, seeing it as a resource rather than a distraction. nationalpost.com For students, cellphone “Cellphones have some fantastic applications in the classroom. We have the plan has a nice ring to it power to teach students how to use them properly to be- K ATHRYN B OOTH B Y in a host of ways, says Keith come disciplined technology Townend, the school’s direc- consumers. The students of As the debate over the use of tor of IT. In math class, for today are the professionals cellphones in the classroom example, quadratic equations of tomorrow. They need to continues, some private are taught using collabora- learn the life skills of resisting schools have found a way to tive tools and annotation soft- distraction, being productive incorporate them into the ware. “Students are invited to and multi-tasking without the learning environment while contribute steps in the prob- device taking over. This is the upping the engagement quo- lem-solving process using critical learning now,” he says. tient of their students. their own connected technol- “In my opinion, to ignore Take Robert Constanzo, ogy,” he says. “The annotated the technology for the sake an English teacher at Cres- pdf can then be saved, posted of classroom management cent School for boys in North to the school’s digital learn- would be irresponsible. It is York, Ont. Constanzo piloted ing systems, and used as a about exciting students and a bring-your-own-technology future resource.” Gamifica- opening them to new oppor- CRESCENT SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPH (BYOT) project in class eight tion, coding and hackathons tunities that lie ahead. With Crescent School is among those incorporating cellphones years ago. “The best way to also contribute to learning discipline, balance and care- into daily class routines. nurture better writers and in fun and engaging ways, ful pedagogy they can have readers is to expose them Townend adds. “Additionally, an environment in which to swer questions about socio- who bring new technology to to more,” he says. “I needed anonymous polling software become deeply engrossed in economic differences and the school, says Townend. quick access to a diverse used with BYOT devices helps their work and reading.” post photos and videos while “It is a two-way street as range of literature without teachers immediately gauge It is not only inside the studying various neigh- to what technology lands in having to photocopy pages the level of understanding of classroom environment in bourhoods. We use this as the classroom,” he says. “If and pages of documents; for a topic as lessons proceed.” which students can benefit evidence of learning, under- a student comes up with a students to be able to edit However, as cellphones from the use of cellphones, standing and engagement valuable idea we act on it, their own writing and that have become ubiquitous however. “We are at a level with key concepts.” because that is what motiv- of their classmates using a some teachers are, once of sophistication in digital When it comes to BYOD, ates them to come forward shared platform; and the abil- again, becoming technology technology that gives us a “the power available in the with more.” ity to manipulate, annotate wary. In some instances this learning environment where learning environment, from How do teachers ensure and synthesize the multiple has meant a ban on class- teacher and students can an acquisition point of view, students stay focused on pieces we were working on. room use. synchronize and collaborate is formidable,” adds Char- classwork rather than check- Connectivity in the classroom “The current dichotomy is in real-time,” adds Haver- lotte Youngson, parent of ing social media accounts or and BYOT allowed all of those stark.