Self-care events are legendary at Central: Students look forward to the chance to take a breath and a moment for themselves, in a school year containing stressors and tests of all kinds, both in and out of the classroom.
Central’s first Self-Care Day of the year, which took place on Monday, October 23, was a much-needed chance for all students to relax and engage in some growth and relaxation. This year’s self-care focus aligns with Central’s theme for the year – positivity. The idea powering this year’s events: Positivity is a decision, an initiative that one can adopt and carry out with determination and intention. And once such a decision is made, it can become a habit that can inform an entire outlook.
This year’s events are being designed with the idea that students can change their minds – positively. “We want students to learn to take care of themselves,” said Central’s school psychologist, Dr. Ariella Gettenberg (’13). “A big aspect of this self-care is open-mindedness. We want to instill a growth mindset in our students, particularly in regard to their mental health. Positivity is a choice. This is the foundational message that we wanted to send, especially at this point in the school year.”
With this goal of positive change in mind, students engaged in ice cream making during their lunch periods, trying out the idea of producing something new from familiar materials. “We’re also bringing in a hypnotist to demonstrate that students can actually alter their states of mind – if they are willing,” Dr. Gettenberg continued.
One significant change to Central’s self-care education approach: Instead of scheduling a Self-Care Week, as in years past, there will be several self-care days placed strategically throughout the school year, with November, January, March, and May events to follow. Each date will focus on exploring a different aspect of self-care, including stress management. “The key is to show students that self-care should be consistent throughout the year, and so this is an event that will happen regularly,” Dr. Gettenberg said.
