Student Life
Health & Wellness
Counseling
Positive mental health is one of every person’s biggest assets. How we think, feel and interact with one another shapes our ability to make the most of life’s opportunities. To assist students, at all grade levels, navigate the sometimes bumpy road of adolescence, Newark Academy has two full-time counselors -- Kirsti Morin in the Middle School and Carol Spooner in the Upper School. Ms. Morin and Ms. Spooner work closely with faculty and administrators to identify student mental health needs and provide a vital link and highly confidential link between the school and each student’s family. Both counselors are available to meet regularly with students, as requested, as well as offering students and families with a wide-range of external mental health providers. More information on adolescent mental health resources recommended by Ms. Morin and Ms. Spooner may be found on the MyNA resource board.
Programming
Health and wellness topics are addressed through the curriculum and through co-curricular and extra-curricular offerings as well as parent education programs co-hosted by the Newark Academy Parents Association (NAPA). Examples of program topics include:
List of 10 items.
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Adolescents and Sleep
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Mindfulness and Meditation
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Nutrition and Health Eating
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Stress Management
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Resilience and Grit
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Social Media and Screen-Time
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Race, Ethnic, Gender Identity Issues
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Alcohol and Drug Prevention
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Suicide Awareness and Prevention
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Social Interaction and Consent
Reimagining rigor for students in grades 6-12