NEWS RELEASE
TWIN LAKES SECONDARY SCHOOL
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On Monday, Feb. 11, students at Twin Lakes Secondary School in Orillia will be participating in an afternoon of activities and workshops presented by staff and community partners to support positive mental health.
Students will be able to attend three workshop sessions that are designed to promote healthy ways to manage stress and live a healthy lifestyle.
Some of the choices include meditation and mindfulness, laughter yoga, journaling, snowshoeing, pet therapy, hip hop and dance, woodworking, and creative art therapy.
“Student well-being is critical to student success, and when students are preoccupied with emotional concerns, they cannot fully participate in learning," said Twin Lakes principal Julie Underhill.
A committee of dedicated teachers have been busy creating this mini-conference dedicated to supporting positive mental health and resilience.
The idea stemmed from a “Change Makers Conference” that took place in 2017, giving students from all Simcoe County District School Board schools the opportunity to come together to voice their concerns about mental health and wellness, and to develop ideas that they could implement in their own schools.
Maria Racco, a teacher from Twin Lakes who attended the session, was intent on turning these ideas a reality.
“Student voice is an integral part of creating positive change in our school, at home, and in our communities," said Racco. "We also have students assisting as facilitators for the day.”
This Mini-Conference is especially important given the increase in mental health concerns faced by secondary school students today.
Claire Wells, a School Social Worker, is excited about the event.
“The staff here are very dedicated to a holistic approach to student success, you can feel it in the halls," said Wells. "To kick off the mini-conference we will be having the internationally known Live Different organization host an assembly all about kindness and youth empowerment on Feb. 7."
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