This year’s Ship Day programming focused on nutrition and featured keynote speaker Amanda Feldman ’12.
Health and Wellness
Mind. Body. Community.
Throughout a student’s Middle School and Upper School years, Dana Hall works diligently, thoughtfully, and intentionally to cultivate a brave, open, and safe community that values the health and well-being of all.
Our celebrated Forum curriculum is the centerpiece of those efforts. Through regular meetings led by teachers, students learn how to build self-confidence and strong relationships by exploring core themes of community, communication, identity, and self-care. They embrace alternate viewpoints, lean into discomfort, and negotiate the “oops” and “ouch” moments that come with adolescence.
The Peer Education program here does not just scratch the surface of challenging conversations, but instead welcomes new ideas and perspectives, all the while fostering new friendships across grade levels.” EMILYPeer Educator
We evolve our Forum programming each year to reflect emerging developments around race, gender identity, and other societal factors that affect our school and our world.
Throughout the year, we also welcome guest speakers who address topics that range from how to become a good digital citizen to personal stories of recovery and resilience. Recent speakers have included Dr. Lisa Damour, an expert on adolescent girls’ development and the author of the bestseller Under Pressure, and Rosetta Lee, a highly respected diversity speaker and trainer.
The physical health of our community is also a top priority. While participating in team sports isn’t a requirement at Dana Hall, we expect and encourage every student to be physically active. The breadth of activities and programs offered at our Shipley Center—from squash to rock climbing—helps ensure that students exercise their bodies as well as their minds. Recreational sports, which complement our robust athletics offerings, are woven into the fabric of student life, providing valuable lessons in teamwork, leadership, cooperation, and collaboration.
Health and Wellness News
Students are supporting breast cancer awareness not only by wearing the color pink, but by raising funds for local nonprofit Runway for Recovery.
Psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour met with the Dana Hall community on Tuesday, October 17, to discuss mental health, stress and anxiety.
Ship Day 2022 encouraged students to use creative outlets to help manage stress, overcome challenges and express themselves.
From the Roar
In a school culture where every student is known, seen and valued, the curriculum intentionally provides graduates with a robust understanding of how to maintain their own mental health.
By taking a holistic approach to athletic development, Dana Hall prepares students to excel academically, athletically, and personally.
Black History Month is about finding the past in our present, measuring progress, honoring those who came before, reflecting on how we narrate history, and how we conceptualize Black identity.