Winsor Hill students get crash course in social emotional health

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There was an incredible exercise in education Friday all around Winsor Hill Elementary School.

It was called Healthy Kids Day – as it has been in years past – with this year’s theme, as coordinator Susan Parillo explained, being “to promote social emotional training” in hopes of enhancing the school’s storied Be Your Best Self program.

“This is actually a district-wide elementary school initiative to improve school climate and student success,” said Parillo, who doubles as a Winsor Hill health and physical education teacher and cheerleading coach at Johnston High School. “Our students have been learning about this program and implementing it in their everyday life.”

Most recently, students in Kerri Yekelchik’s second-grade classroom – with the help of talented art teacher Kim Marshall – painted T-shirts with powerful words to remind students about always being their best selves.

The daylong program was divided into two parts – a morning session with Johnston EL teacher Shannon Babul teaching wellness that included a fun-filled exercise session in Winsor Hill’s gymnasium, and Ruth and Rene of the Tri-County Community Action Agency conducting a lecture entitled “The Inner You.”

“Our afternoon session was fantastic,” said Parillo, who worked diligently with Winsor Hill’s school nurse to bring what many faculty members called “this incredible experience to the students.”

Representatives from the American Heart Association and famed Kaleidoscope Theater participated in the well-orchestrated afternoon session.

As for the morning session, Babul was a huge hit, as the Johnston EL teacher led a highly-active program in fitness with an understanding of why it’s important to have exercise as a release.

“Fitness, recreation or sport are ideal ways for students and adults to engage in an activity to de-stress or regroup when they’re having emotional concerns,” Parillo said.

In the afternoon session, students enjoyed the American Heart Association’s new program, Kids Heart Challenge, which was presented by Donna Tringali. She spoke not only about heart health, but also introduced their social emotional campaigns that dealt with understanding how the heart feels.

Perhaps it was fitting that the day concluded the Kaleidoscope Theater’s performance of “BULLY,” which gave, as Parillo emphasized, “each and every student an understanding of the factors associated with being a bully and also how students could positively and negatively.”

Tringali closed out with an informative question-and-answer session that allowed students to share their own experiences and get an understanding for their interventions. 1

EDUCATIONAL EXERCISE:

Shannon Babul, a Johnston EL teacher, may have been the most popular lecturer during Friday’s Healthy Kids Day at Winsor Hill Elementary School. (Sun Rise photos by Pete Fontaine) 2

SUPER SESSION:

Students at Winsor Hill Elementary School shouted and clapped to music as they followed the lead of Johnston EL teacher Shannon Babul during Healthy Kids Day Friday. 3

HAPPY HEART:

Winsor Hill School student Sophie Darby is proudly holding one of the new characters from the American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge during Healthy Kids Day Friday. 4

MIGHTY MESSAGE:

Joe Catanzaro, a featured actor with the Kaleidoscope Theater, speaks with Winsor Hill student Matteo Fleet about the importance of getting to know someone before making a judgment during Friday’s “BULLY” session.

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