3 Health and Wellness Activities for High School Students at St. Agnes
Looking for ways to deal with stress in a positive manner? Check out these health and wellness activities for high school students at St. Agnes.
Written by Tess Pacetti ‘26
As busy teens, students at St. Agnes Academy have lots on their plates – demanding academics, intense sports, diverse extracurriculars, and exciting school events. It’s a challenge to protect and support students’ health and wellness, especially within their constantly booked schedules.
The pressure of sports, social life, and college preparation can build up without warning, so learning strategies and habits to support students’ mental health is critical to a safe and healthy school environment.
Simple habits, such as deep breathing, physical exercise, or connection with peers, can lessen feelings of anxiety and stress within teens. Starting with small, intentional actions can prevent large serious issues in the future and give you a happier and more fulfilled high school experience. Learn more about recommended health and wellness activities for high school students to find success!
Why Wellness Is Important for High School Students
High school is a time for major emotional, physical, and academic change. Especially the transition from middle school to high school can be both exciting and stressful. As students explore the hallways, they attend new classes, make lots of friends, and learn more about the campus they will be spending the next four years on.
Wellness activities can help reduce anxiety about starting high school and improve focus. Our counseling department focuses on providing opportunities for students to engage in social emotional learning (SEL) that helps girls develop emotional awareness that is necessary for a healthy and balanced emotional well-being.
Schools that support mental health and wellness often see a correlation with better student engagement and peer connection. As our students grow into successful young women, St. Agnes strives to provide the resources necessary for them to thrive.
Our counseling department hosts multiple events throughout the school year that focus on key components of mental well-being. They provide strategies to deal with anxiety, to reduce stress in testing or how to decide if you are in a healthy relationship.
The skills learned at St. Agnes Academy will not only allow our students to flourish here, but also beyond in college and their careers as well.
Physical Health and Wellness Activities that Support Student Well-being
Let’s dive into specific activities that can support your well-being!
1. Movement Breaks and Light Exercise
Short activity breaks throughout the day can boost health and wellness by reducing fatigue, improving mood, and lowering overall stress. Intentional pauses, such as short walks, provide an opportunity for students to rewind and reset away from their work.
These burnout prevention habits are crucial for emotional decompression, sharpening focus, and improving mood. Teenagers have busy and stress-filled lives, but taking a few moments to pause, calm down, and collect your thoughts can help build a healthy balance.
Examples of Short Break Activities
- Stretching or yoga (simple stretches)
- Short walks
- Deep breathing
- Mindfulness practices (meditation or breathing techniques)
- Stepping away from screens
Incorporating these short routines throughout the day can prevent any feelings of sluggishness or mental burnout, ultimately protecting students’ mental well-being both within and outside the classroom.
2. Outdoor Nature Activities
Students can connect with nature through nature walks or outdoor sports, which can improve mental well-being by reducing stress and creating a calm oasis, while also boosting physical well-being.
Being outdoors for just 5 to 10 minutes per day can significantly improve physical wellness by lowering blood pressure and enhancing immune function. The health benefits – combined with the peaceful escape of the outdoors – can help create a meaningful sense of calm and tranquility that is deeply beneficial for overloaded teens.
3. Team Sports and Group Exercise Activities
Students at St. Agnes Academy are encouraged to participate in any of our strong athletic programs. Joining a sports team can foster a sense of camaraderie, strengthen teamwork skills, and boost overall self-esteem. Being involved in these programs helps students to feel connected and supported in their high school experience.
Athletics Teams at St. Agnes Academy
- Volleyball
- Basketball
- Tennis
- Softball
- Track and Field/Cross Country
- Swimming
- Lacrosse
- Tennis
To learn more about our athletics department and the sports programs offered, please visit our Athletics Homepage to find out how to try out for a sport!
Consider These Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Activities
Social Emotional Learning activities are exercises designed to help teenagers build goal-setting habits, show empathy, manage emotions, and make responsible decisions. The activities develop healthy minds and bodies, focused on improving academic performance and reducing stress.
Group Discussions and Check-Ins
An example of an SEL activity to boost focus and emotional regulation is through group discussion and conversations. Through encouraging students to have open dialogue about their feelings and emotions, students build critical social skills such as empathy and compassion.
Peer Support Activities
SEL peer support groups can provide a safe environment for individuals to intentionally strengthen their emotional intelligence and improve relationship-building skills.
Through engaging with collaborative activities, such as appreciation circles or mindfulness exercises, the peer support group seeks to reduce feelings of loneliness and boost mental and emotional well-being.
Core Purposes of SEL Peer Support Groups
- Building connection and trust
- Strengthen emotional intelligence
- Improving resiliency
- Boosting conflict resolution skills
- Fostering self-awareness
Gratitude and Positivity Exercises
Activities centered around sharing gratitude and appreciation for the world around us can build emotional regulation skills and strengthen relationships. Small, intentional actions such as journals, jars, or compliment circles in our school setting can help create a positive teaching environment for both students and teachers.
Creative Wellness Activities for High School Students at St. Agnes Academy
Need to get a little more creative in building healthy habits? Try out some of these ideas!
Art and Creative Expression Opportunities
St. Agnes strongly emphasizes the importance of giving students the opportunity to express themselves through artistic creativity. With numerous art classes, extracurricular activities, and club involvement, there are plenty of opportunities to explore.
With the sky as the limit, students are encouraged to involve themselves with our arts department as much as possible. Creative expression is a powerful wellness tool that can reduce stress, improve emotional regulation, and provide a more relaxed state.
Involvement in painting, writing, or performance dance provides a meaningful outlet for students to process emotions, deepen awareness, and, most importantly, offer powerful self-discovery.
To learn more about the creative programs offered by St. Agnes Academy, visit our Arts Department Homepage to continue exploring.
Wellness Challenges and Planned Events
The Wellness Department at St. Agnes Academy focuses on creating opportunities for students to relax, rewind, and make meaningful connections with their peers.
The Department hosts events, such as the Building Healthy Relationships Workshop, to educate and inform students on how to emotionally and mentally balance themselves within a busy and often stressful high school environment.
For example, St. Agnes recently hosted our annual Self Care Fair, which included service dogs, calming crafts such as bracelet and slime making, mindfulness activities, and a fun photo booth. This fair not only encouraged students to spend intentional time with their peers but also provided an opportunity for powerful self-discovery.
Explore the full range of what our Wellness Department provides to students!
Volunteering and Community Engagement Activities
St. Agnes strongly encourages students to be involved in volunteer positions within the community. Between service-oriented clubs and school-organized service retreats, there is certainly no shortage of opportunities.
Volunteering not only helps others improve their well-being but also helps students build purposeful relationships and connections. Strengthening initiative and social-emotional skills, these volunteering positions prepare our students to be the future leaders of the world, as the St. Agnes mission calls us to do.
Examples of Service-Involved Clubs and Extracurriculars on Campus
- Key Club
- Student Government
- National Honor Society
- Climate Action and Technology Club
- Girl Up St. Agnes Academy Club
- Pink Club
- Sweet Causes Club
How St. Agnes Academy Can Further Encourage Health and Wellness
Fostering healthy mental and emotional well-being does not happen overnight; it is an accumulation of small, frequent habits over a long period of time. With wellness-oriented activities integrated into daily school routines, students can realize significant improvements in their personal health.
St. Agnes has created a safe space for high school students that involves meaningful dialogue about mental health. Each student should feel comfortable having meaningful conversations with their wellness counselors when they feel they are struggling. Remember, addressing and understanding the problem is the first step towards a solution.
These short, consistent activities encourage a balance between academics and well-being, creating a healthier environment for students and allowing them to thrive and learn skills that will last them a lifetime.
Overall Benefits of Health and Wellness Activities for High School Students
High school is an exciting and busy place for most students, complete with academics, sports, and social activities, but it is equally important to pause and reflect on your mental and emotional well-being as students flourish into the future leaders of tomorrow.
Health and wellness activities, such as those mentioned above, can strengthen both mental and physical well-being. Small habits, such as deep breathing, reflection, and connection, ultimately equip students with lifelong skills to manage stress and reduce anxiety.
To see how your physical and mental health is supported in our classrooms every day, learn more about the St. Agnes Community Culture. Find out even more ways you can take advantage of our health and wellness activities for high school students!
