CONNECTING … WHILE DISTANCING

Distance learning, the stay at home order, closures and cancellations — students have experienced it all. All of these changes are frustrating and upsetting to most students, but is there any good that can come from the coronavirus pandemic?

Sandpoint High School’s counselors and student mentors are doing what they can to make the best of a situation that experts say is impacting people’s mental health by reassuring the student body with weekly doses of advice and encouragement. Their duties to help the student body have become more challenging since the school closure, but that hasn’t stopped them from trying to reach students in this difficult time. 

One way the counselors have tried to connect distantly and infuse students’ weeks with positivity was by starting “Wellness Wednesday.” Career counselor Jeralyn Mire said the counseling staff has been posting inspirational messages and helpful tips about maintaining a healthy routine, mental health, and other issues students are dealing with. 

“We just wanted to remind students, staff, and parents, that we’re here … and to remind them to reach out to us so we can help,” Mire said. 

The counselors have encountered many challenges of connecting with students in interactions that are traditionally done face-to-face. For example, incoming freshmen have been registering for classes online.

“One of the hardest things is trying to really figure out how we can support students who are finding it really challenging during these times,” Mire said.

Mire said that “A Needs Assessment” would be released soon to give students the opportunity to reflect on how they are struggling, how the counseling office can meet those needs, and overall what the counseling staff is succeeding at.

Mire advises students who are struggling “to not be afraid to reach out to their teachers, and if they feel like they are not getting support from their teachers, reach out to their counselors and we’ll help.”

Mire also recommended that students reach out to their mentors for peer support. The school’s mentors class has been trying to give the student body positive reinforcement by making creative videos that promote different aspects of “Sources of Strength” to remind students to take care of themselves and others.

“Messages from students to students are always more powerful,” said Erin Roos, the mentors class instructor. “We hope that these videos will inspire others to focus on growing the components of their own wheel: healthy activities, positive friends, generosity, family support, trusted adults/mentors, spirituality & gratitude, medical access and mental health.” 

Junior Jocalyn Gors, a mentor, believes that her and her fellow mentors’ mission to be there for their Connections classes is more challenging now.

“It makes it super hard to keep a connection going with someone when it’s all technological and the kids in our school seem to have lost interest, because we all know that creating a bond over the phone rarely happens,” Gors said.

Junior Madison Garman, a fellow mentor, said one challenge of being a mentor during this time  is “staying positive to encourage other students that everything is going to be alright.”

Senior Will Hawkins, a mentor, also agrees that it has not been easy to stay connected with his mentees because they can’t talk face to face. But is trying to think positively.

“Although distance learning is hard,” he said, “I believe everyone is trying their best and trying to understand what we as students have to go through right now.”

Despite the difficulty of not being able to have close interactions with peers, the counselors and mentors are choosing to find the silver lining.

“The mentors as a whole are learning how to navigate and to be wonderful mentors while going through this wild time,’’ Gors said, “and I feel like when school starts next year, we’ll be even better than we are now.” 

Roos feels passionately about making the most out of the time we are sitting at home.

“This quarantine time can be used to reprioritize our energies where they are needed most,” she said.

Even though students may feel debilitated in this confusing time, the counselors and mentors point out that a break from busy schedules can be an advantage.

“If we use this time to assess where we are personally, decide which tools we want to grow and maintain, and actually do it…we will all come out of this pandemic transformed instead of frustrated,” Roos said.

Advice from SHS staff and mentors to students  

Sydnie Knepper

Junior

“Work on keeping [your] screen time to a minimum and make sure to get outside at least 10-15 minutes a day.”

Cameron Albert

Senior 

“Talk to the ones you love and still stay positive. You shouldn’t let hard times stop you from being with the ones you care about or enjoying yourself. You know as long as you’re socially distancing.”

Erin Roos

Mentors Teacher

“I’ve found the best medicine for a bad mood is gratitude journaling and doing something nice for someone else.”

Hayley Thames

Junior 

“Try to find new and exciting little hobbies or rediscover old ones you forgot about; this is also a great time to try and focus yourself and your mindset!”

Will Hawkins

Senior

“Have a positive outlook, it’s needed right now. You’ll just dig yourself into a hole deeper and deeper as you keep watching the news. I’ve been watching people going crazy about it and not being able to sleep because of it. It is a scary time for everyone, but if we all just practice social distancing then it should get better.”

Jeralyn Mire

Post-Secondary Transition Counseling

“Students should be gentle with themselves…It’s easy to get frustrated, but remind yourself to take a couple deep breaths and try it again, and not give up..” 

Madison Garman

Junior

“Do some healthy activities. Try to get outside as much as possible and stay connected with friends.”

Katie Stewart

Junior

“I’d say just try your best to be healthy and don’t procrastinate even though it feels like we have all the time in the world. If you need help or ideas to on how to be healthy in all aspects, go on schoology and watch the videos that Erin Roos has posted made by mentors which include ideas to stay active and positive during quarantine.”