Need to let off some steam? The Upper School Council is working on reducing stress in the Upper School. USC has scheduled the opinion board, has created open gym time after lunch and is working on a student tutors program. On Oct. 12, senior President Hagop Toghramadwjian announced that the gym will be open for student use during 4th and 6th periods, as well as some Wednesday X-periods. “So far, our proudest accomplishment has been ensuring that the gym is open for students to use every day,” he said.
The gym project has been in progress since last spring, finally coming to fruition after faculty members agreed to supervise the gym during lunch periods. “We worked really hard to solve a lot of liability issues,” senior Treasurer Ellen Swenson said.
Student tutors is another USC project underway. To meet the goal of reducing stress in the Upper School, USC formatted an optional program for students to help struggling students in the grades below them. “It’s really important [for] SPA which is oftentimes a very stressful environment to provide a system of support for students to learn how to deal with that stress,” Swenson said.
Together with student groups, USC worked out a schedule for them to put formal posts on the opinion board in week-long segments. Over the course of the year, each Thursday group will have the chance to present issues they have been discussing, around dates significant to them. For example, People for Environmental Protection will post during the week of Earth Day. The group posts will only take up a segment of the board. Other groups and individuals are still encouraged to post their own opinions during those times.
USC is also busy planning this year’s speaker day, with the theme “Bridging Barriers and Overcoming Obstacles.” This year, the event will span the entire school day, as students listen to speakers who have overcome significant adversity during their lives, or have helped others succeed in difficult circumstances.
Through collaboration with US Librarian Kate Brooks, USC has successfully converted the library classroom to a quiet study area. The room is now available all day for students who want to focus on their work during free periods, except for times when student and faculty groups meet in the space. “It’s nice to have another place to study,” senior Ben Oppenheimer said.
Stress reduction will not be limited to just tutoring programs and study sessions. Expect USC to find more creative ways of helping the Upper School relax. “Last year since finals we’ve seen a lot of stress and so we’re brainstorming ideas to reduce stress during those times. A lot of colleges have a day where they bring in puppies during finals week, for example. We won’t quite do that, but we really want to take peoples’ minds off of stressful things,” Swenson said. Maybe puppies won’t make an appearance during midterms, but rest assured, USC will find a way make exam season a little brighter.
There will be open gym everyday during the week from 11:30-12:45pm. Clean athletic, non-marking shoes are required. No exceptions. There will also be open gym Wednesdays during X-period except Oct 24, Nov 7, 14, 28, and Dec 12.