During the “ROAR Together for Wellness” event, students participated in various physical activity sessions. (Photo Courtesy Easton Public Schools)
EASTON — Fifth graders at Richardson Olmsted School recently spent a full day learning how to take care of themselves.
The event, called “ROAR Together for Wellness,” provided students with practical ways to manage stress, stay healthy and build confidence as they prepare for middle school.
Each student rotated through at least five workshops covering topics including emotion regulation, coping strategies, nutrition, the importance of sleep, physical fitness and positive self-esteem.
Physical activity sessions gave students a choice of karate, yoga or a workout led by Easton Fitness — and every session connected movement to stress relief.
A station on social media and peer pressure was led by Oliver Ames High School students, who offered their own perspective on navigating constant judgment in today’s digital world.
Between sessions, students took five minutes to write in journals — a reflective practice that organizers built intentionally into the day. The journals, funded through a grant from Sarah’s Village, traveled with students through each workshop as a record of what they had learned and a resource they could take home.
The day was organized by Grade 5 teacher Alicia Dorment and Marci daCamara, a counselor who works with the school, who spent months coordinating volunteers, securing donations of T-shirts, fidgets, drawstring bags and stickers, and building a full-day schedule that balanced content with movement and reflection.
“It was our goal to plan an interactive day where students could build their personal toolboxes to be more successful in the future,” daCamara said. “With the amazing support of the Easton community we were able to achieve this.”
The event drew more than two dozen volunteer presenters from across the Easton community, including school counselors, health and physical education staff, mental health professionals and local fitness instructors. Aramark food service contributed a special homemade granola tasting during lunch and invited students to share feedback on school menus.
The day closed with a keynote from Joshua Peach of Be Au Sm, who spoke to the entire fifth grade about overcoming personal challenges. Many students left visibly moved by his story.
“The day ran smoothly and was a huge success. We are looking forward to doing this again next year and already have many presenters ask to be part of our day,” Dorment said. “We look forward to helping our students with gaining strategies to deal with transitions in their lives in the years to come.”
In the weeks leading up to the event, fifth graders also worked with digital literacy teacher Jessica Garbowski to design a banner now displayed in the school as a gift to younger students. It features a motivational quote — “the best view comes after the hardest climb” — and a climbing-grip motif representing the effort it takes to succeed.
“This event is a wonderful example of what can be accomplished when dedicated educators and community partners come together with a shared purpose,” said Superintendent Dr. Lisha Cabral. “I am deeply grateful to the organizers whose thoughtful planning made the day so meaningful, and to our community for their continued support.”
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