Community Corner
Stonington High School Hosts Health And Wellness Day
The Annual Event Gave Voice To Local Professionals And Brought Insight To Students
hosted their annual Health and Wellness Day Wednesday, May 25. The event, organized jointly by Health and Physical Education teacher Dane Lewis and senior students attending the Advanced Health and Wellness class, was offered to the 400 juniors and seniors both to inspire wellness and to explore vocational interests in the health and wellness industry.
The round table event allowed students to free flow through the cafeteria, spending 10 minutes with their choice of the 19 speakers. Speakers included EMT, Glendon Riffe, Yoga Instructor, Amy Zezulka, Joanie Farley of River Light Wellness and Recreational Director Joe Mendoca.
The students recruited all of the participants during class time.
Find out what's happening in Stonington-Mysticwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
This event, for the past 15 years, has focused on just one or a couple of topics according to Lewis, but this year, with the help of wellness class seniors who recruited and contacted all of the speakers, the agenda grew to 20 guests and topics.
“We’ve been working on this all semester, it was a long project but it came together really well,” said seniors Kalee Latham and Kehlsi Haynes who are part of the wellness class and helped organize the event.
Find out what's happening in Stonington-Mysticwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Veteran Stonington High School teacher Joe Ciriello was the keynote speaker giving a captivating message of planning, positive thinking and perseverance. Ciriello, who began teaching at SHS in 1975, filled half the auditorium and held the crowd’s attention.
”You need to aspire to greatness; if you can see it, it will happen.” Ciriello continued, “Human thought tends to manifest itself in reality.”
Teacher and event coordinator Lewis feels the event is mutually beneficial for students and the community. While speakers, many of who attended Stonington High, are sharing their contributions and insight, community building is taking place and students are able to familiarize themselves with what is going on locally.
“We hope that this is eye opening for some of them” Lewis said. “Depending on the speaker, depending on the topic they take away different things, but hopefully we make an impact.”
