As I joined 5th-grade parents in the Taylor Media Center today for the first of our grade-level parent lunches, I was reminded of the importance of face-to-face discussion. It builds camaraderie and community. It provides support. Being together in person is good for our mental wellness.
I have noticed that the public's concern about the impact of COVID-19 dropped drastically once masks became optional. But COVID is still very much with us. Besides the obvious academic challenges that the pandemic produced, mental health issues have also skyrocketed. To quote a recent News & Advance article, “... schools in Virginia and across the nation continue to grapple with the damaging effects of isolation and remote learning on children’s emotional well-being. The pandemic magnified the fragility of mental health among youth, who had been experiencing a rise in depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts for years …”
That is why we committed to doing whatever was necessary to make in-person learning available to our students these last two years. And it is why I have emphasized to our faculty and staff the increased need to support the mental wellness of all of our students. For example, our teachers meet on a regular basis to discuss each individual child from both an academic and a mental health perspective. We have added an extra break in the day for our middle school students. We committed to keeping our nurse and counselor on staff and supporting new programming they can provide for our students.
The advantage of an independent school is our ability to adapt to the needs of our students. Responding to what’s best for our children is the “cherish” part of our mission in action.