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Student presents 'Thrive' peer support club to Ball Chatham board; board members offer backing
Summary
Glenwood High student Sharania Sani outlined 'Thrive,' a student-led, trauma-informed peer-support program modeled on an SIU School of Medicine initiative. Board members and staff offered encouragement and pledged assistance.
A Glenwood High School student told the Ball Chatham CUSD 5 board about a new peer-led mental-health initiative and received broad board support.
Mr. Green introduced senior student Sharania Sani, who said she founded Thrive after attending an SIU conference and reaching out to program leaders. "Our mission statement is to empower high school students to build mental wellness, resilience, and community support by fostering peer-led trauma-informed initiatives," Sani told the board. She described a student survey identifying gaps in knowledge and access to mental-health resources and outlined plans for workshops, peer-support groups, volunteer activities and collaboration with school counselors.
Sani said the program would offer peer-led discussions, arts- and music-based sessions, meditation and community volunteer opportunities, and that initial meetings are being coordinated with other student clubs including the medical club. Board members praised the initiative: one trustee offered to help connect students with community providers, and another said peer relationships can be transformative.
Mr. Green said the Thrive group dovetails with existing student ambassador work and thanked Sani and adviser Pat Scott, a part-time high-school counselor, for their leadership. The board expressed unanimous support and encouraged staff to assist with outreach and logistics.
Sani asked for community involvement and volunteer support; the board said staff could assist in connecting the group to local resources.
The presentation concluded with expressions of appreciation from the board and a note that staff and board members were available to help the student leaders expand the program.
