Remember Wellness Wednesdays? Last school year, the North Allegheny School District implemented the reverse two-hour delay schedule every Wednesday so that students had time to do homework, get individualized attention and assistance from teachers, or participate in other activities. Though the policy is no longer in practice, NASH is planning a revival — a Winter Wellness Day for the day before winter break.

From 12:15pm to 2:15pm on Thursday, December 23, the building will host a variety of activities for students to participate in.

NASH GOAL facilitator Mr. Karolski is one of the staff members helping to organize this event.

“A lot of students want Wellness Wednesdays back,” Karolski said. “We’ve been trying to figure out ways that we can keep with the spirit of Wellness Wednesday, [providing] those wellness activities for students and giving students a break from the rigorous academic schedules that many [of them] have here, and just make it a fun event for students.”

NASH principals Dr. Dirda, Dr. McEwen, and Mr. Salopek are involved in planning the event, as well as Mrs. Oliver–who is organizing the logistics of student sign-ups and scheduling–and many other NASH teachers who will be planning their own sessions. In a poll sent to teachers regarding a preferred date, December 23rd was the overwhelming winner.

“That day, things are winding down, and [we want to make] it a valuable day for students,” Karolski said. 

“That whole week before and including that event is going to be a Student Council-sponsored spirit week, so we’ll have a couple of different spirit days included in there,” Karolski said. “[The 23rd] is going to be ugly sweater day!”

The day will follow a reverse two-hour delay schedule, and the two activity sessions that students will get to choose will each be 55 minutes long.

Session options are still under consideration, but likely options will include a movie shown in the auditorium (a poll for movie suggestions will be released to students soon); various activities in the gymnasium such as yoga, cornhole, basketball, and frisbee; essay editing and holiday poetry; board games and card games, music performance spaces, video game competitions, and events hosted by the FCS department. More ideas are still coming in from students and staff members.

“Mrs. Oliver, Mr. Lauster, and Mr. Banks are looking at doing a workshop activity in either Mr. Banks’ or Mr. Lauster’s room where they have a 3D printer, a laser engraver, and some other nice pieces of technology to let people make whatever they want, such as gifts for their families,” Karolski said.

Multiple student organizations and clubs are also involved in planning event sessions for the day. Karolski and the principals met with students who hold leadership positions in various clubs as well as randomly selected students to hear their input for what they want to see on that day.

“I’m most excited for the movies on Wellness Day,” NASH senior, Morgan Nash, said. “It will be a great opportunity to chill before break.”

Karolski hopes that students will find the day enjoyable.

“A couple of hours where we’re here in school just getting to have a good time without any of the stress of impending tests or anything like that — that’s why we chose [the 23rd],” he said. “It’s something to make that last day [before winter break] valuable whereas in the past it might have not been as fun of a day.”

There is also talk of having a similar event in the spring but with more involvement from students who may be interested in leading sessions.

“What we would really like to do is send out a form to students to create their own events and have them present them maybe to a panel of teachers… and figure out a way for them to make it happen,” Karolski described.

“We have a lot of really strong clubs and organizations in the school,” he continued. “We can possibly utilize those clubs and organizations to take on different activities and present them.”

NASH senior Hunter Badamo weighed in on what he would like to see if there were to be a spring Wellness Day.

“I think it would be so awesome if students, with a teacher sponsor, could teach a subject they know,” Badamo said. “I know I would love to teach music production with Mr. Tozier in the music theory room because that’s what I’m interested in. And when I brought this idea up to my friends, they blossomed with a ton of creative topics that they could teach other students.”

The possibilities are seemingly endless for wellness activities, and NASH staff members hope that these days will help boost student morale.

Signups and options for various activities for the Winter Wellness Day on December 23rd will be available for students soon.