Helping Students Manage Stress
The weeks and days leading into this final week of assessments can be a time when stress and anxiety build in students. With the light of a well-earned vacation in sight, the obstacles of papers, projects, and exams can bring added pressure. While the simplest way to release this additional burden would be to not have assessments, this would not be a realistic solution in a world where our students will eventually face deadlines and exams. The reality is that many adults feel a similar level of added stress prior to vacation as they work to complete projects or clear their to-do lists prior to disconnecting for a period of time.
Helping students learn to manage stress is a skill worth developing because whether in or outside of school, stressful and anxious moments are a part of most of our lives. The American Psychological Association updated this 2019 article, “How to help children and teens manage their stress” in October 2022. The article originally published prior to the COVID-19 pandemic highlights sources of stress and the importance of finding ways to reduce stress. The updated version shares some of the lasting effects of the pandemic on adolescent mental health.
Inspired by the school year theme, Finding Balance, Finding Joy, we encouraged Upper School students to attend a DeStress Fest, where they could come relax, socialize, develop an exam plan, listen to calming music, and do meditative activities such as coloring and stuff-a-plush (think Build-a-Bear) prior to math exams. During this activity, we modeled that during stressful times, as the article suggests, making time for fun and practicing mindfulness can help lower stress, which will help one's brain function more effectively while completing work or taking an exam.
With 25% of the Upper School in attendance for DeStress Fest, students and teachers felt a sense of calm throughout our high school heading into exams. In addition, our students practiced lowering their stress by shooting hoops in the gym, getting a run in before school due to the later start, listening to a perfectly curated playlist, and getting a little extra sleep. In doing so, we hope they are developing the skills needed to find balance when faced with deadlines and finding ways that work best for them during the high-stress moments in their lives.
Brimmer and May School
69 Middlesex Road
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
617-566-7462
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
617-566-7462
As an inclusive private school community, Brimmer welcomes students who will increase the diversity of our school. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, or any other characteristic protected from discrimination under state or federal law, in the administration of our educational policies, admissions practices, financial aid decisions, and athletic and other school-administered programs.