Speaker Series Wellness Week

Twice a year before exams, Mercy hosts Wellness Week - supported by the Counseling Department, organized and led by students.

Wellness Week was created as a way to help address high stress levels before finals, and usually consists of fun ways for students to relax during lunches and/or Collaboration, coupled with an advisory lesson designed to help them prepare mentally, physically, and emotionally for their finals. All the activities are student-selected, so they reflect ways the girls prefer to unwind. Last spring, activities chosen by the Wellness Week Planning Committee included:

• A “Self-Care Fair” with face painting, Mandala coloring, and making lanyards, lavender sachets, spa masks, and slime

• The “Take-What-You-Need Wall”, where students created thoughtful, positive, post-it notes to share with one another

• A Friday afternoon ice cream social on the green

• Puppy play day, where faculty brought their dogs for students to cuddle and play with during lunch and break time

Advisory lessons included reminders about good study skills and strategies, as well as suggestions for managing finals-related stress. Many students struggle to make time for self-care around finals, so it is very helpful to provide opportunities for fun and relaxation on campus!

CYNTHIA KLEIN: Ally Parenting

Cynthia Klein led a workshop on transforming conflict into cooperation, and offered solutions and strategies while humorously sharing her own experiences. Her Ally Parenting philosophy empowers parents to lead by example, and provides a concrete and hope-filled path to turn family conflicts into effective, collaborative discussions.