Manitou Springs High School students will depart from normal class schedules on Wednesday, March 15, to participate in Mustang Strong Day.
This is a day to learn and experience positive mental and physical health. The four blocks will focus on physical health, mental health, life skills, and free choice. Students are able to choose classes to participate in. Staff and community partners are leading and teaching these classes/presentations.
“Students who are physically active tend to have better grades, school attendance, cognitive performance and classroom behavior. Mental wellness can do the same so students can learn the connection between mind and body,” said Jennifer Trainor, Manitou Springs High School counselor and member of the Wellness Team.
An assembly and 5k kick-off are scheduled for 10:20 a.m. The first block starts at 10:45 a.m.
Some of the options offered for each block:
Physical wellness — 5k run; hike; yoga; walk the track; dance class; staff and student basketball; and Zumba.
Mental wellness — therapy dogs with counselors; meditation and creativity; journaling class (effectively writing to process emotions); Yoga Nidra (yoga of sleep); confidence class; and coping skills and “Hands are for Holding” presentation from TESSA of Colorado Springs.
Life skills — fix/change a flat tire; “ChatGPT: cheat without actually cheating”; how to change oil; adults and money, taxes and debt, credit cards, car loans, student loans, etc.; sewing class; cooking class; interview skills; pregnancy/STI prevention; tools and home maintenance; maps and wilderness navigation; Gardening 101; how to jump-start a car/training on what to do if electrocuted and AC vs DC; and Leave No Trace on the Pikes Peak Highway.
Free choice — meditation; Flying Pig Farm; board games; Storytime with Dante (“The Four Agreements”); origami class; birdwatching; and karaoke/open mic.