Open Up X Steel Valley brings mindfulness, wellness to fifth graders

It's remarkable what a few minutes of measured, controlled breathing or quiet creativity can do for someone's overall wellness.

That concept is at the core of the new Open Up X SV initiative, which aims to provide students with helpful tools and resources to support their overall wellness and emotional health. Steel Valley staff, middle school students, and high school students have been working with Lawrenceville-based Open Up, which has developed, "a student-led wellness leadership initiative training high school and middle school students and staff to support peer wellness and mentorship. Participants earn certification aligned with workforce development standards at the completion of the program."

On Wednesday, May 6, the students and staff led fifth graders through the first round of wellness mentorship. The fifth graders rotated between six stations set up in the Middle School gymnasium, with each stop dedicated toward helping them practice basic mindfulness and wellness techniques.

The activities and lessons included guidelines on choosing healthy snacks, using art to unplug and decompress, simple movement and basic stretching techniques, an introduction to box breathing, and other relaxation tips. Steel Valley staff members, along with middle school and high school students in the program, worked alongside Open Up representatives to help guide the fifth graders through the lessons and explain their purpose.

Staff members on the Open Up X SV team include Ms. Ryan Dumire, Ms. Julie Kamnikar, Ms. Lisa Lawson, Ms. Traci Churilla, and Mr. Chad Kanz. Student participants include Omega Conway, Ty Seibel, Nalaha Stallworth, Mirah Miller, Brandi Freeman, Reggie Kenney, and Damarius Hipps-Goodwine from the middle school and Sammy Ketterman, Abigail Novak, Paige Perhac, Kylee Goodwine, and Abby Emery from the high school.

The team has been working all year to train and put together the Open Up X SV program. We look forward to seeing the mindfulness and wellness spread throughout our students and staff!