Ninth-grade students at Pine Bush High School spent one October morning focusing on wellness. It covered a large area of activities, from decompressing with music, pets and crafts, to exercise benefits and the calming effects of growing plants. Leadership, bully prevention and an incredible story of selflessness were also part of the day. 

“Music is a powerful thing”

Songwriter Elizabeth Clark presented to two large groups of ninth-graders in the auditorium. She was part of a project where songwriters worked with Holocaust survivors to tell their stories.

“Music is a powerful thing,” she told the students. “It can be very healing.”

Just how healing it can be was a surprise to many.

Clark worked with a woman named Friede Gorewitz, who, as a teenager in Belgium, helped save children from the Nazis. Friede was a Jewish girl and saw the hatred and destruction spread by the Nazis. She didn’t go into hiding like many; instead she became part of the resistance at just 16 years old. She was responsible for saving 18 children from the Nazis.

Through all of these times filled with hate, Friede found joy in music. It was so important and therapeutic to her. Eventually she escaped her situation and came to America. She married and had three children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

 

Her passion for music never wavered. Friede worked with Clark on a project called “Songs of the Survivors.” Clark wrote a song about Friede’s life called “Friede’s Opera.” Friede, an opera singer, even sings in a video of the two.

“I wouldn’t have survived if I didn’t have music,” Friede has said.

“You might think she would be an angry person,” Clark told the students. “She is not. She had so much joy in her life and she appreciates the little things: her grandchildren, flowers, birds out the window.”

 

Wellness Comes In Many Forms

Students had the opportunity to choose  different wellness activities throughout the morning. Some of the most popular were making friendship bracelets and visiting with therapy dogs.

Pine Bush High School’s own O’Malley and Jack, a terrier, showed students how calming a pet can bet. Sitting and petting them or even having them just sit with you during stressful times can help alleviate stress and anxiety.

 

Making crafts is another way to bring calm to your life. There were several sessions where students created friendship bracelets. There is something so soothing about creating. The bonus is making someone happy by giving them a gift you made by hand.

 

The same can be said about growing plants. The plant lady, Mrs. Parker, asked the group of students, “Who has a green thumb?” When not too many hands went up she replied, “There’s no such thing as a green thumb. You just have to figure it out.”

 

There were classes for Zumba and karate. An important part of wellness is physical activity. Moving our bodies improves brain health, helps manage weight, reduces the risk of disease, strengthens bones and muscles, and improves the ability to do everyday activities. It also feels good!

 

Coming back around to the benefits of music, there was African drumming in a music room and performances of the Ecktones in the library. Students enjoyed the drumming and the message from the instructor. “The goal right now is for you to make your parents proud,” he said. “I will do my best to make my parents proud.” The students repeated it with him while drumming rhythmically.

 

In the library, after the Ecktones, a band of Pine Bush High School faculty including Eckerson, John Petrofsky, Andrew Cook, Dan Edward and Rob Pawson, performed some classic rock tunes, students took to the mic to sing or read poetry.

 

 

 

Stand up Against Bullying

Students from the Youth Empowerment and Sustainability Skills (YESS) class and the Teen Outreach club presented a panel on bullying. They described DASA, the Dignity for All Students Act, that was passed in 2010 and put into effect in 2012. DASA’s purpose is to provide all students “with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment, and bullying on school property, a school bus and/or at a school function.”

 

 

The students also talked about the No Place For Hate initiative from the Anti-Defamation League that is taught in all seven of our schools.

The student leaders did several activities with each group of students in their segment. They quizzed them – true or false – 1 in 50 kids in high school are bullied? False – it’s much higher! True or false – bullying is more likely to occur in middle school than high school. True!

They discussed how they should respond if they see someone being bullied. Most said they should intervene and help.

They also gave statistics about bullying and the effects it has on students, including causing anxiety and other mental health issues.

 

Be a Leader

Superintendent Brian Dunn and Principal Aaron Hopmayer gave a presentation to students about leadership. Leadership skills are developed, said Mr. Dunn. He emphasized “soft skills” and their importance. Manners, interpersonal skills, eye contact – all of these soft skills are vital in the real world. Say hello and meet people’s eyes. Thank them when they do something.

Communication is key when it comes to problem solving, according to Mr. Hopmayer. Businesses want you to have those soft skills, to work well with others and be part of a team. “Whether you go to work, college, the military, they all require soft skills and interfacing with colleagues,” he said.

 

Why be a leader? “Because it’s fun,” said Mr. Dunn. “It happens with other people at the table. It’s very fulfilling and challenging. It can be lonely and gut-wrenching. But the payoff is worth it. Do something you’re passionate about. It’s easy to get up in the morning when you’re passionate.”