[Press Release] Archbishop Hoban High School Wellness Wednesday

‍New Program by Archbishop Hoban High School Takes a Holistic Approach to Student Wellness, Focusing on Engagement and Emotional Health

Akron, Ohio, March 1, 2023 - Wellness Wednesday is a new student wellness initiative spearheaded by Archbishop Hoban High School, with the goal of increasing student engagement and promoting social and emotional wellbeing.¹

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the social and emotional crises that students across the country are facing. According to recent studies,^{2, 3} school closures and the shift to remote learning have caused significant disruptions in students' social lives and emotional wellbeing, leading to increased stress, anxiety, and depression.

Wellness Wednesday is designed to mitigate these challenges by providing a safe and creative space for students to connect with their teachers and peers. Every other Wednesday for forty five minutes, students can choose from a variety of unique and fun topics selected and taught by their teachers, ranging from Gilmore Girls and Guitar Club to Classic Nintendo and Crochet. This program provides an excellent opportunity for students to engage with teachers outside of the context of regular academic environment.

Recent research has shown that programs like Wellness Wednesday can have a significant impact on students' social and emotional wellbeing.^4,5 According to a study published in the Journal of School Health,⁴ school-based programs that focus on social and emotional learning can lead to improvements in students' academic performance, behavior, and mental health. Another study, published in the Journal of Educational Psychology,⁵ found that students who participate in extracurricular activities experience better social and emotional outcomes than those who do not.

While students have the freedom to choose which classroom to join, it is still essential for the school to ensure accountability and track attendance during the period. That's why Hoban High School has implemented an education management system called SchoolJoy, which provides maximum flexibility for students to sign up while also allowing teachers to easily check students in and track their whereabouts throughout the period. This ensures that students are accounted for and allows the school to provide a safe and structured environment for the program.

"We're thrilled to be able to offer our students and teachers a program that promotes both engagement and wellbeing," said Principal Griffith. "We believe that Wellness Wednesday is an excellent way to help our students and teachers connect in a fun and meaningful way, and we're excited to showcase the positive impact it's had on our school community."

To request more information about the program, please contact leisa.naples@schooljoy.com.

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References:

1. Wellness Wednesday [press release]. City, State: School Name; February 2023.

2. Hussain N, Sur S. Impact of COVID-19 on mental health and well-being of children and adolescents. Asian J Psychiatr. 2020;54:102525.

3. Loades ME, Chatburn E, Higson-Sweeney N, et al. Rapid systematic review: the impact of social isolation and loneliness on the mental health of children and adolescents in the context of COVID-19. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2020;59(11):1218-1239.e3.

4. Durlak JA, Weissberg RP, Dymnicki AB, et al. The impact of enhancing students’ social and emotional learning: a meta-analysis of school-based universal interventions. J Sch Psychol. 2011;50(3):405-432.

5. Fredricks JA, Blumenfeld PC, Paris AH. School engagement: potential of the concept, state of the evidence. Rev Educ Res. 2004;74(1):59-109.

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