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Students present stress‑reduction games; OCPS launches 'Let's Read' districtwide challenge
Summary
Boone High students described a weekly 'Braves at Play' program to reduce student stress; district leaders also launched Let's Read OCPS, a Beanstack‑based reading challenge that logged more than 21,000 readers and 1.1 million minutes in its first reporting.
Students from Boone High School described a student‑led stress‑reduction program to the school board on Jan. 28, and district leaders announced a districtwide reading challenge that has already logged tens of thousands of reading minutes.
Student program: Mary Michaels (senior class treasurer) and Delaney Anderson (student body secretary) told the board about “Braves at Play — Chasing the Stress Away,” a Friday lunch program that offers board games and outdoor activities to give students a weekly brain break. The students said the initiative has increased social opportunities and reported school‑survey outcomes: a 75% overall sense of belonging, 76% positive perception of school climate and 91% of students reporting at least one friend at school. The presenters said the program helps reduce stress, build relationships and develops problem‑solving and creativity through games.
District literacy challenge: Superintendent Dr. Monica Vasquez announced the districtwide Let’s Read OCPS challenge, which runs Jan. 27–April 30 and uses the Beanstack app to record reading minutes. Dr. Vasquez said, “we have had over 21,000 readers that have logged into Beanstack, and we already have over 1,100,000 minutes that have been logged in by students and staff.” The challenge invites students, staff and community members to log minutes and donate them to a chosen school; district leaders said prizes and public recognition will follow and that the district will report progress to the board.
Other student recognition: the board also recognized Boone and other student honorees, including industry scholarships and student ambassador selections; Timber Creek senior Zachary Martinez was noted as one of six statewide ambassadors selected by The Able Trust and each ambassador receives a $500 scholarship.
Speakers quoted and cited in this article appear in the meeting transcript.
