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High school students lead Hope Week; board praises peer-driven mental-health efforts
Summary
Jefferson High School's Hope Squad advisors and student members described a week of peer-led mental-health activities, including an assembly, student-written lessons on empathy, stress-management sessions, therapy animals and other events designed to teach warning signs and self-care to students.
Jefferson High School staff and students told the board about Hope Week, a student-led mental-health initiative organized by the school's Hope Squad peer-support program.
High-school administrator Laura introduced Hope Squad advisors Meg Lloyd and Taran Arvback and student presenter Ellery Bundy. Ellery described the week’s activities: a student-written empathy lesson for Lion's Pride, an assembly focused on stress management and self-care, a "shred your stress" station, anonymous compliments, craft activities, pinatas used as a staged stress-release, and visits from therapy animals during lunch.
"We had a whole day where we're just explaining things to everybody... we had a whole assembly... we had mental-health people come by with self-care packages," Ellery said, describing how students both delivered lessons and planned events. Advisors emphasized the program's peer-referral role and training: Hope Squad students are taught to recognize warning signs and refer peers to adults.
Administrators and board members praised the student work for both raising awareness and building skills. The board encouraged continued support for the program and noted interest in extending peer-support training where feasible.
