In a time period of stress, pressure and deteriorating mental health during midterms, there are tangible ways West Essex can improve student and staff well-being. West Essex should consider implementing a system allowing students to have time away from school obligations, following in other school’s footsteps.
School districts around the country have begun to make changes with the students’ well-being in mind. Locally, Wayne High School established a program known as “Wellness Weekends” for the 2023-24 school year. This program is based around the idea of prioritizing student and staff well-being. If schools so close to ours with similar characteristics can make the change, there is no reason West Essex should not be implementing the same programs.
The Wayne School Board described the program as a “a break away from school responsibilities” in an Instagram post. The board selected three weekends in November, February and May that they felt would give students and staff a much needed break. During this time, students had no homework, tests, quizzes or due dates immediately before or after the weekend. They also implemented a rule banning homework and long-term projects due within three days of spring or winter break.
This attempt to improve students’ well-being and give them a chance to enjoy their free time as humans and not just students will positively affect the school environment. If students are given spring and winter break along with various weekends away from school obligations, they will have a reprieve from the constant burden many high schoolers face. Now that “Winter Wellness Weekends” has been implemented in neighboring districts, West Essex should consider doing the same.
“This idea of having a weekend free of work…is something we are open to,” Assistant Principal Kimberly Westervelt said.
Students work rigorously all year, as they face homework, tests, projects, midterms and more while juggling sports, extracurriculars and social lives. If students set aside time away from school work, they will be more eager to learn and work hard when they come back, improving grades and mental well-being. West Essex has the ability to incorporate a system similar to “Wellness Weekends.” During the midterm season, students are facing more stress than ever. They are studying for tests and submitting homework up until the weekend before exams begin, leaving them with barely any time to review for midterms. This stress is unfair to place on high schoolers and has the opportunity to be relieved with the implementation of a program similar to Wellness Weekends.
“While it is not something we have actively discussed doing here, it is not something we are opposed to either,” Dr. Westervelt said. “The idea hasn’t really been brought to us to consider it. We try to incorporate student wellness in other aspects.”
West Essex has incorporated various aspects of wellness that can benefit student and staff mental health and well-being, such as having the library open for silent study and meditation programs. But, it is necessary to pressure the administration to establish a system such as “Wellness Weekends” during stressful times of the year. This can help to create a positive and healthy environment for students who want to focus on exams and their life outside of school as well as minimize stress for teachers to grade assignments and tests. Establishing a program similar to “Wellness Weekends” will benefit students when studying for exams, including midterms and finals, and improve their mental well-being as a whole.
