Mayfield boldly takes on urgent and essential health and wellness topics
Back in September, Mayfield launched a new program with a somewhat amorphous name—Formation of Self. But in one short semester the innovative health and wellness program has become a normative phrase on campus, a course students rattle off as easily as Honors English, Chem or AP Lang.
The breakthrough course is part health and wellness, part life skills, part psychology with a nice dose of meditation and prayer. Its bold curriculum, first envisioned by Head of School Kate Morin, has quickly earned accolades from parents and widespread attention among high school educators eager for innovative ways to teach students how to keep their minds, bodies and spirits strong.
Mayfield’s in-house experts—School Nurse Cathy Cota, Learning Specialist Ann Bussard, Counselor Cristina Perez, and College Counselors Abby Shaw and Samantha Pieper—recently presented the Formation of Self (FOS) program at a national conference for the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools. We have fielded inquiries from other high schools seeking to emulate our program.
“In a very special way this program addresses a core mission of a Holy Child education by teaching our girls that, because they are so loved by God, their bodies and minds are precious gifts that they must care for and respect,” said Head of School Kate Morin.
“We are taking on urgent, essential health and wellness topics and are giving our girls tools to so they can take control of their lives with confidence and dignity,” she said. “I could not have asked for a stronger launch and am grateful to our FOS team.”
Students say they have found a safe space in seminar-type classes to talk about the critical issues that affect their lives—navigating teen relationships, the importance of sleep, developing study skills, interpreting online health information.
For seniors the course is devoted to guiding them through the stressful college application process before tackling practical life-skills like managing their personal finances and setting boundaries in college social scenes.
The program serves as an extension of our Catholic, Holy Child mission that calls educators to nurture a strong sense of self in students. "Be yourself, but make that self all that God wants you to be," our foundress, Cornelia Connelly, said.
Our FOS educators spent months designing the curriculum and bring a depth of experience and enthusiasm to their work.
Mrs. Bussard and Nurse Cota met with freshmen throughout the first semester. As they began their high school journey, our freshmen learned to embrace a growth mindset and learned to include the power of “yet,” as in, “I am not good at it, yet,” in their lives.
They have learned about email etiquette and time management skills and explored procrastination solutions and effective learning strategies. They particularly loved this Ted Talk on procrastination (a good video for us all!)
As the second semester opens, Nurse Cota is emphasizing healthy habits, including the importance of getting enough sleep, and especially staying home when sick during this hard-hitting flu season. The essential role of sleep continues to be woven into all discussions.
With their new knowledge, students are preempting Nurse Cota when they visit the Health Office by giving her the information they know she needs. They typically say something like:
“Yes, I ate breakfast. I got seven hours of sleep last night and six the night before. I guess I’m low on sleep; maybe that’s why I have a headache and trouble focusing.”
“It’s so rewarding to see them putting their new knowledge and understanding to use!” Nurse Cota said.
Mrs. Bussard is building on study skills lessons for sophomores. They covered the use of planners, how to write respectful and professional emails, including the importance of using a salutation and sign-off when corresponding with adults. Ms. Perez facilitated discussions on stress versus anxiety, mindfulness and guided activities that encourage critical thinking and self-compassion.
At their first meeting of the new semester this week Mrs. Bussard asked her sophomore class to to reflect on this quote from Ellen DeGeneres: “When you take risks you learn that there will be times you succeed and time you fail, and both are equally important.”
In a discussion that reflected their comfort and trust with each other and their teacher, they spoke of failures with pride:
“I took Honors Geometry and barely slipped by with a B,” one student said. “But I’m really glad I did because I think I learned more that I would have in a regular class.”
“I sang at a recital and messed up so badly I ran off stage and broke down,” another said. “But I have kept singing and I kept doing better and better each time I performed.”
“I took a risk yesterday. Someone couldn’t do the dance show and I agreed to take them empty spot. Now I have to learn the dances in four days.”
“I sang at a recital and messed up so badly I ran off stage and broke down,” another said. “But I have kept singing and I kept doing better and better each time I performed.”
“I took a risk yesterday. Someone couldn’t do the dance show and I agreed to take them empty spot. Now I have to learn the dances in four days.”
Ms. Perez open her second semester class of juniors with a provocative topic: toxic vs. healthy relationships. She likened a toxic relationship to slowly ingesting poison, “It will harm you or slowly kill you.”
The students all keep journals of their Formation of Self journey, a book that they will carry with them throughout their Mayfield years.
As she handed out papers defining the parameters of “healthy relationships,” Ms. Perez said, “What I’m giving you today I want you to hold on forever. It’s information for life.”
And that is the essence of Formation of Self!
Established in 1931, Mayfield Senior School in Pasadena, CA is a Catholic, independent, college preparatory school for young women grades 9-12. Noted for its rigorous academic program, which includes 28 Advanced Placement and Honors courses, Mayfield’s curriculum is underscored by a philosophy of educating the “whole child,” which also encourages commitment to and excellence in the arts, athletics, community service and spiritual growth. The nurturing environment at Mayfield Senior School allows each student to flourish in an atmosphere of personal attention.
