Around CampusBush News
Upper School Wellness and Joy Day
This past academic year marked the launch of The Bush School’s Upper School Wellness and Joy Day, dedicated to relaxing, reflecting, and finding joy. Students participated in two one-hour sessions from invited guest speakers in the morning and finished off their day with two peer-led wellness sessions in the afternoon. The goal was for students to gain new tools to use in times of uncertainty, doubt, or trouble.
Bush hosted two professional workshops that day. First, art therapist Dalisha Phillips hosted “Keeping It Cool Through Change, Challenge, and Conflict Utilizing Art-Making and Creativity.” The workshop explored art making and creative experiences intended to boost emotional intelligence and encourage courageous ways of caring for self when experiencing change, challenge, or conflict. Students created a large piece of group artwork to highlight how everyone brings their own unique sense of creativity to the Bush community.
Certified meditation teacher Kim Armstrong led a workshop titled “Everyday Meditation and Mindfulness for Your Brain, Mood, and Stress Levels.” Students were introduced to mindfulness and compassion concepts and practices to help tune in and care for themselves. The session discussed how mindfulness and meditation practices are supportive of the teen brain and can help increase well-being and reduce stress. A variety of mindfulness tools were introduced that students could use throughout their days going forward.
In addition to the professional workshops, fitness center specialist Megan McKinney-Rickey led a “Fitness 101” workshop to introduce the fitness center to students who may not have used the space in the past.
“I wanted students that wouldn’t otherwise come into the fitness center to feel more comfortable coming,” Megan said.
She created a “Fitness 101” syllabus and led students through a sample program with instructions on how to use the various weights and equipment throughout the gym. She had them put together different movements and showed the more regular gym users new ways of programming workouts that they may not have necessarily been familiar with before. She was pleased to see a few students come in more regularly following the workshop.
“I want to make fitness fun,” Megan said. “Sometimes even just coming to be in the space can help kids not feel so isolated.”
High school can often be a stressful time for Bush students, but through new programs like the Wellness and Joy Day, the school hopes it can give students the tools they need to take care of themselves during challenging periods. Embracing emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and exercise can bring joy into our students’ lives.
by Colin Murray, Communications Manager
The Bush School is an independent, coeducational day school located in Seattle, WA enrolling 735 students in grades K–12. The mission of The Bush School is to spark in students of diverse backgrounds and talents a passion for learning, accomplishment, and contribution to their communities.
3400 East Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98112 (206) 322-7978
The Bush School does not discriminate in matters of employment, recruitment, admissions, or administration of any of its programs on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, gender, or sexual orientation. In addition, The Bush School does not discriminate in matters of employment on the basis of age or marital status.