The McGuyer Family Center for Wellbeing and Success

Wellness topics such as healthy eating, the importance of sleep, healthy friendships, kindness, and mindfulness are woven into a variety of lessons taught each day in the Lower School classrooms. Students learn about the brain, the stress response, and how mindfulness works to lower stress levels. A Social Emotional Learning curriculum is infused throughout the lower school in each grade level and during P.E. Daily physical education allows students to gain in fitness, strength, and flexibility while learning to be a positive teammate during games and activities. Through a variety of small-sided games, students practice the traits of empathy, grit, optimism, and flexibility – reinforcing lessons learned in the classroom.

Every seventh-grade student takes Human Development, a class focused on growth through learning about healthy relationships, boundaries, stress management, healthy eating, the science behind addiction, the importance of sleep, etc. Students also learn about the brain and the health benefits of mindfulness, practicing mindfulness at least one time per week during the trimester course.

Kinkaid offers additional resources to support health and wellness in this particular age group:

Peer Mentors

Seventh and eighth-grade students provide support and mentorship to aid our fifth and sixth-grade students in their transition to Middle School. Activities include topics such as team building, social relationships, cyber-citizenship, and academic skills to foster success for the students.

US2MS Peer Counselors

A small group of Upper School students goes into seventh and eighth-grade gatherings to discuss issues of bullying, body image, social media, healthy friendships, and stress while serving as positive role models.

Wellness Assemblies/Class Meetings

Middle School students at Kinkaid attend assemblies on topics such as healthy nutrition, hydration, sleep and stress management, healthy relationships, social media, and our digital footprint, etc. During class meetings, each grade level discusses what it means to be a productive citizen, the health consequences of substance abuse, and in 7th and 8th grade U.S. 2 M.S. Peer mentors talk to students about healthy friendships, social media, and what to expect in U.S.

Advisory

Two important goals of advisory are to build community and provide a safe space for discussions, cooperative activities, goal setting, and support. Each student is assigned to an advisor who provides guidance and support throughout the year. A spiraled Social Emotional Learning curriculum is provided in middle school during the advisory program. 

Upon entrance to the Upper School, each Kinkaid student joins a community group of 10 to 12 students and one faculty member, which meets weekly until graduation. This group creates a safe space to discuss issues including stress, healthy relationships, motivation, leadership, teamwork, social pressures, self-care, responsibility, academics and more.

In addition, Kinkaid offers a roster of specific programs to address Upper School students’ developing wellness needs:

Peer Mentor Program

Each Kinkaid ninth-grade student, within Community Group, is led by a select group of seniors called Peer Mentors. Peer Mentors plan and implement programming throughout the year on topics such as managing the student workload, the importance of sleep, navigating friendships and peer pressure, social media health and safety, stress and any other concerns the ninth-grade students need to discuss.

Decisions

In this semester-long course in the ninth grade, students read about and discuss healthy relationships, navigating social media, goal setting, depression and resiliency, good study strategies, stress and stress management, alcohol and other drug education and healthy sexuality.

Countdown to College

Beginning after the Interim Term in January, this program focuses on giving Kinkaid seniors the tools to stay healthy as they move to college life.