Seneca students plan healthy living day for peers, community
Past year’s speaker, Paralympic rugby player Joe Delagrave talks to Seneca students about how he overcame being disabled in late adulthood. Delagrave, though not returning to Wellness Day 2020, is among the top-notch caliber of speakers who speak at the school for this annual event.
There’s typically a fun and challenging physical mini session that’s part of Wellness Day.
By Correne Martin
For the 30th year, the Seneca High School youth leadership group, SHARE, will sponsor Wellness Day for the school and area communities on Wednesday, March 11. It is the longest running youth-led wellness program in the state.
Again for 2020, a who’s who of motivational speakers and professionals will grace students and staff in grades 6-12 with their expertise, led by:
•Kathy Bresnahan, former Iowa City West High School volleyball coach and author of “The Winning Season,” a book made into a movie in 2018.
•Dennis Hall, a 1996 Olympic silver medalist in Greco-Roman wrestling. He will discuss his achievements to reach the top of his sport and share a story about losing his brother to a battle with alcohol-related issues.
•Mike McGowan, a favorite speaker back from Pewaukee, who will provide both keynote and mini session presentations about making positive, informed choices concerning risks. McGowan has come to Wellness Day for over 20 years.
•Fierce Freedom Organization, of Altoona. They will make a presentation on human trafficking.
Both Mike and Dennis will speak from 8:10 to 9:10 a.m. Kathy will talk at about 12:15 p.m. The human trafficking lecture will be from 3 to 3:30 p.m. All community members are welcome to listen in.
In total, there will be a host of additional presenters discussing the following topics: healthy communication and problem solving, uncomfortable conversations, CBD, “Stop the Bleed,” gardening, nutrition, mission work/travel, mindfulness practices, texting and internet safety, suicide, mental health and anxiety awareness, personal fitness, agility ladder activities, yoga, drug prevention, vaping, community volunteerism, shaken baby syndrome and more.
Students have the chance to choose six mini sessions to attend throughout the day, in addition to the keynotes, though they are only assigned attendance at four of those sessions.
“What makes this event so unique is that it’s provided by the students (and alumni) for their peers,” said Diane Yager, SHARE adviser and Seneca Schools AODA coordinator.
SHARE stands for Students Helping Area Resistance Efforts. Every year, the members of the club plan the entire prevention education program. This year’s 42 members have organized everything from the speakers and Wellness Day mini session schedules to the T-shirts, signage, raffles and exit evaluations. They also host a couple fundraisers throughout the year and reach out to the community and businesses for financial support.
“Our fundraisers help get the speakers and promote our event,” SHARE student Travis Zach said.
“This is all a big part of our success in promoting healthy lifestyle choices for students at Seneca Schools,” Yager said.
She added that the student SHARE members also write local and state grants—five to six each year—in order to secure funds for this influential event. Organizations such as the school’s educational foundation, school board and the county Children’s Advisory Board have been among those supporting Wellness Day financially. Alumni have been donors in the past as well, proving their belief in the program.
When the second Wednesday of March rolls around, SHARE members spend the previous evening cleaning, setting up the whole school and making door signs for each session. The day of, they arrive early, greet presenters, prepare breakfast and the hospitality room, hand out student folders and help with lunch.
“Each student has between 50 and 100 hours of volunteer time put into this group and Wellness Day,” Yager said, noting that they get a T-shirt and a day trip to Wisconsin Dells as thanks for their efforts.
Various presenters over the past 30 years have come to Seneca’s Wellness Day simply through word of mouth, from Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and beyond. Yager and her SHARE students often glean speakers by hearing about someone who has a great story or who represents a difficult issue youth may be facing. Then, they invite them to the school to spread their message. If they’re not paid, oftentimes SHARE provides them a small gift in return for their time, such as gas money or a donation to charity in their name.
“[Speakers] now look forward to coming when asked,” Yager noted. “This is also one of those days where we have nearly perfect attendance at school. It’s a big day.”
She mentioned others who’ve spoken over the last three decades, including Tom Farley, the brother of famous comedian Chris Farley; a local parent who lost their son to skittling (getting high off cough medicine); a young girl who overcame childhood cancer and treatment; friends and family of accident victims; law enforcement, etc.
“It’s a lot of fun and everyone wants to keep it going,” said SHARE student Nicky Trautsch.
Yager pointed out that, locally, “we’re starting to see some differences” in teens.
“This generation is smoking less than previously,” she said. “They’re making good longterm decisions about their health.”
Overall, this enrichment occasion will once again bring an abundance of wellness knowledge through the halls of Seneca Schools on March 11. If 30 years isn’t enough, the fact that other schools are trying to create the same type of program should further demonstrate the event’s success.
“It takes a lot of work,” Yager stated, “but we all connect through it.”
