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Show A-6 The Park Record Wed/Thurs/Fri, September 19-21, 2018 The subject of today’s class: happiness District Course teaches Continued from A-5 leader honored problem solving, stress management CAROLYN WEBBER ALDER The Park Record There is one classroom in Park City High School that feels different from the rest. The students are spread throughout, lying in sofas by a fireplace screensaver on a computer or gathered at a small table. There are no textbooks or worksheets on the desks, only identical journals with the word “Happiness” printed on each one. It is the happiness class. Twenty-three students are enrolled in this year’s course, which is the first of its kind at the high school. Those enrolled in the semester-long elective learn about meditation, conflict resolution and how to be more grateful. Sam Walsh, the school’s intervention counselor, and Melanie Moffat, an English language learning teacher, are in charge of the class. Walsh said the idea for the class emerged out of the Park City School District’s commitment to teaching the “whole child,” particularly emphasizing social and emotional learning. While teachers and administrators considered incorporating mindfulness techniques into the classroom or hiring additional counselors, Walsh stumbled across an article describing the most popular course being taught at Yale University — the happiness class. She decided to bring the class to Park City High. After making the pitch over the last few years, Walsh said she finally got the go-ahead at the end of last school year to pilot some lessons on mindfulness and conflict resolution during an elective class. She taught a couple of lessons in the spring. “What we found is kids really were hungry for this kind of content and information,” she said. “Giving them the tools to manage their own conflicts and TANZI PROPST/THE PARK RECORD Azim Senior, right, journals about mindfulness during Park City High School’s new happiness class. Students learn about the science of happiness and how to practice skills to have more joy in life. their own relationships, I saw that (be) really freeing to them.” The students who had, before the lessons, frequented the counseling office because of arguments with their peers were suddenly asking to use a room in the counseling office to talk through their problems themselves. Data collected before and after the pilot showed that students who participated learned valuable skills, such as problem solving, Walsh said. Given that success, an entire course dedicated to the subject was put on the list of elective classes offered this school year, and Walsh and Moffat got to work building the curriculum. Borrowing from Yale’s happiness class, a dialectal behavior therapy class taught at another school in the state and Walsh’s experience working with students, the class was formed. Students learn about the science behind happiness and practice skills that have been shown to increase joy. They learn about mindfulness by hiking up PC hill or eating a clementine and focusing on what they can taste. Or, they are given a hypothetical problem and must come up with possible solutions in a group. Students are graded on self-reflection and journaling. So far, the students say the class has been useful. Laine McKibbin, a senior, signed up for the class because she wanted to develop skills for herself and others, since she hopes to one day work as a therapist. She said she is already trying to implement mindfulness when classes get stressful. She hopes people can realize how beneficial it can be and sign up for it. “You get what you put into the class,” she said. “The more people that take the class seriously, the better the school is going to be as a whole because it’s more people sharing kindness and being grateful for what they have.” Ben Quinones, a junior, said he enjoys the time to pause during the school day and de-stress, es- pecially because Park City High is a “high-pressure school” where students are expected to succeed in all aspects of their lives. The break is relaxing. Walsh said she knows how high expectations are for students at the school, which is one of the reasons she wanted to introduce the class. “In the 10 years I have been here at the high school, the No. 1 need that students say they need from our school is help with work-life balance and lowering anxiety,” she said. “We are trying to meet part of that demand and request by offering this class.” Walsh said the broad range of students taking the class shows that everyone can get something out of it. If each student walks away with one skill — whether it is how to mediate their own conflicts or manage stress — she said it will be a victory. “The thing that I am the most excited about is to get these positive coping skills into the hands of more students,” she said. tant principal and a coach, because he wanted a change. He later stepped into the principal role and then, in 2010, became the district’s superintendent. He said he has loved his position working in a small district, so he can continue to interact with students but also make a big-picture difference. Since he started as superintendent, he has made an impact. He helped the district become a one-to-one school, meaning every student has access to a computer and iPad. That change, he said, makes students ready for post-high school education. He also implemented a reading foundation that prepares young children to read before they enter the school system. Recently, he launched the I SWEAR initiative (Inspiring Students With Empowering Adult Relationships), which pinpoints students with attendance or behavior problems and pairs them with a mentor. “We have a lot of kids in our system that just need a posi- tive adult role model,” he said. “They need adults to put an arm around them.” The initiative includes adding resources for mental health, which is why Holmes helped hire a counselor in the elementary school and is looking to hire a district therapist. His passion, he said, is to not let “anyone fall through the cracks.” Julie Black, business administrator for the district, has worked in multiple roles with Holmes since he started at the district in 2000. She said it is obvious that students are his main priority. “He seeks to make it work for every type of student, not just the great ones,” she said. “He has a soft heart for those students who struggle.” Wade Murdock, principal of North Summit High School, agreed. He said Holmes is supportive of the administrative team and listens to the concerns they have. This work, and Holmes’ commitment to continuing to improve the district, were quoted in a press release announcing Holmes’ award. He was happy to be recognized but said he did not do it alone. “Any success that I’ve had in this district is from an outstanding board who supports me and great, great people that are in the schools doing the actual, in-thetrench work for kids,” he said. CAROLYN WEBBER ALDER/PARK RECORD Jerre Holmes, superintendent of North Summit School District, was recently recognized as the Superintendent of the Year. His work bringing technology to the schools and launching an initiative to pair struggling students with resources and support were listed as reasons for the award. THE RED APPLE GALA Thank You Park City! Thank you to the fabulous sponsors, donors, and volunteers who made the Red Apple Gala another fantastic success! All proceeds help fund the 100 programs going beyond what public education provides to meet the needs of our students, teachers, and community! THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! Mandy and Brian Demmert THE LEMONS FAMILY Janice Ugaki and Doug Greally |