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Grounded and ready to Learn On.
At Athenian, we see wellness as an active, ongoing part of student life. We help students build the skills they need to care for their physical and mental health, form strong relationships, stay curious, and find purpose. Our partnerships with groups like Authentic Connections and JED help us gather data so we can better understand our students’ needs and offer the right support at the right time.
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“In my exit interviews with seniors, I hear some common themes. Students share that at Athenian, they were able to dig deep into areas of passion, have fun, and explore a variety of interests. They leave here with confidence in who they are and in what they are capable of.”
-Meadow Davis, Head of Upper School & Assistant Head of School
Ways we support student wellness:
Dean of Students
Our Middle School and Upper School deans of students work to build a positive and kind school culture. They take a developmentally appropriate approach to student support, providing guidance, linking students with additional resources when needed, and helping students develop the skills to resolve conflicts in a community centered way. They hold students accountable in a way that strengthens their confidence and their connection to the broader Athenian community.
Grade Level Deans
Grade level deans/coordinators add an additional level of support for our students and play an especially big role in transition years. For example, the ninth grade dean leads the ninth grade orientation and checks in on student progress and also serves as a primary point of contact to new ninth grade parenting adults. These positions help our broader community understand the unique needs of students in each developmental stage and work to build programs to support these needs.
Advisory
Student advisors are an important point of contact for students and their parenting adults. Advisory groups are grade-level groups of 8-10 students and one or two faculty/staff advisors. The focus of advisory time is social and emotional wellbeing and connection. Advisory provides an important time in the week to check-in and build trusting relationships with an adult and a group of other students
School Counselors
Our professional school counselors are available to talk to students one-on-one and often help them develop important skills around emotional regulation and stress reduction. In addition, our counselors develop wellness-related programming. We have a dedicated counselor in each division.
School Nurse
A nurse is on campus each day to provide medical care and referral services to all of our students. The nurse plays a critical role in our boarding student program and in supporting the health needs of all our students, 6-12.
The impact of our expansive 75-acre campus on student wellness is immeasurable. Students have ample time to find refuge in nature, without stepping foot off campus. During breaks, lunch and between classes, students often recharge alone or with friends in their favorite outdoor sport or activity. For our middle schoolers, who need movement throughout the day, the Peanut, and sports field are a constant hub of activity.
The daily schedule was intentionally designed with rotating blocks and longer class periods to support both learning and student wellness. With class periods meeting less often than in a more traditional class schedule, students are allowed to go deep into fewer subjects each day. Both the Middle and Upper School have time built into the school day for students to meet with their teachers and catch up on school work.
The school calendar is built with intentional breaks that allow for students to recharge at key points in the year. March Term (Upper School), Focus Days, class trips (Middle School) also support a shift in routine with significant wellness benefits. And finally, in response to student feedback, late starts and wellness days are built into special schedule weeks in the Upper School to allow students to recharge and get extra sleep.
Both the Middle School and Upper School have thoughtfully designed beginning of the year orientations, including day trips as well as overnights, focused on the unique needs of each class. Some grades have retreats during the year as well.
The transition years–sixth grade and ninth grade–have especially rich programming to support student wellbeing. From the sixth grade life skills course to the ninth grade foundations class, students are introduced to important skills and knowledge that will serve them throughout their years at Athenian. See more about the ninth grade foundation’s course in the course catalog here.
Since student needs are constantly evolving, we have a very active Health and Wellness Committee in the Upper School. This group of students and adults meet regularly to identify emerging health and wellness needs and they help develop programming and curriculum to meet these needs. This group was integral in developing the programming for our annual wellness day and building the curriculum for the wellness portion of our ninth grade foundations class.
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