St. Mark's School

This academic year, The Wellness Department pursues to integrate healthy ideals into our

St. Mark's community. X-block represents an opportunity for our students to destress and spend time gathering with friends, sharing a conversation with a faculty member or getting ahead on homework. In this time period, the Wellness Department wants to introduce some areas of practice that would help our community have the physical, mental, and emotional skills

to enjoy their best experience in a demanding prep school environment.

15-40 Connection joined our community Friday, January 25th. 15-40 connection talks about the importance of early detection and what warning signs of cancer might look like. They speak about the importance of what your great feels like and how small things that are out of the ordinary for a two weeks period of time might be just what you need to seek out the advice of your primary care physician. When you speak with your doctor you must be honest. This presentation is part of the New Fifth Form Wellness Forum, but because of the importance of the message, 1 out of 2 males and 1 out of 3 females will be diagnosed with cancer.

On Friday evening, December 7, the SMLeads program welcomed Andrew Onimus from "Minding Your Mind" as a guest speaker.

You've been away at boarding school and it's time for break. You might feel really excited and can't wait to get home, or you might be glad to be getting a break from schoolwork, Chapel and your roommate, but not so happy about leaving behind your friends and independence. After you have been managing your own life at school, it can feel strange to get back to family rules and expectations. Life at home can feel different when you've been away. Maybe your younger siblings are not only taller than when you left, but have taken over part of your room or are wearing your clothes that you left behind!

While at school, you've been in charge of your social life and free time and it can be hard to all of a sudden feel like your parents have planned your time for you, especially if you want to just decompress and do nothing!

Yoga — a mind-body practice — is considered one of many types of complementary and integrative health approaches. Yoga brings together physical and mental disciplines that may help you achieve peacefulness of body and mind. This can help you relax and manage stress and anxiety.