Stress less, smile more: De-Stress Fest delivers

Two students thoughtfully determined their next move in a jumbo-sized Connect Four. A nearby table was rimmed with students braiding colorful friendship bracelets. In a shady area, Crimson, the golden retriever therapy dog, received visitors.

This is De-Stress Fest, an annual event sponsored by school counselors and psychologists to support students' overall well-being. It’s scheduled in the middle of finals. “The event gives students and faculty an opportunity to 'de-stress' as well as learn helpful techniques that can be used both the following week during exams, and moving forward,” said Counseling Department Chair Emily Colman.

“We just took English 1 Regents,” said juniors Stephanie and JJ. “It’s the last Regents we will ever take!”

They were sitting at the Calming Coloring table, working on a table-sized “zentangle.” Birds chirping, perfect weather and the smell of freshly cut grass added to the meditative moment.

They said that AP Week—Advanced Placement exams that begin in early May—started the season of stress. “This is the final push,” said Stephanie.

Ninth graders Julianne and Cassidy, who were part of a cornhole game that kept morphing from passing and dunking the bean bags to using the cornhole boards as gladiators’ shields and back to the standard game, said they still had finals ahead of them.

From lawn games to a jigsaw puzzle table, the staff of the school's Counseling Center rotated through De-Stress Fest's stations, connecting with students and keeping all activities stocked and ready for students' free times and lunch periods. 

At the Mindful Glitter Bottles station, students filled small jars with liquid, chose from an array of vibrantly-colored glitter, closed up the jars and shook. The glitter swirled, glinting in the sunshine, and slowly settled.

 “I might keep mine in my backpack and use it during finals,” said one student.