Last year, the Personal Counsellors at St. Michaels University School introduced a new wellness program for Grade 9 students. Rooted in current research on adolescent development and emotional health, the program reflects the goals of the BC curriculum by helping students understand how healthy choices influence their physical, emotional, and mental well-being. It also gives them practical tools to manage stress, regulate emotions, and build habits that support lifelong wellness.
At the heart of the program are two frameworks: the Healthy Mind Platter and the Mood Meter. Through six interactive sessions, Personal Counsellors guide students as they explore these ideas, practise new skills, and discuss how they apply both in and beyond the classroom. These are the "soft" skills that employers look for, and that help our students be happier and healthier overall.
The Healthy Mind Platter
Developed by neuroscientist Dr. Dan Siegel, this model outlines seven daily activities that support a balanced and healthy brain:
- Focus Time – concentrating on tasks
- Play Time – being creative and spontaneous
- Connecting Time – building relationships
- Physical Time – moving the body
- Time In – moments of quiet reflection
- Down Time – unstructured time to relax
- Sleep Time – restorative rest
The Mood Meter
Created by Dr. Marc Brackett of Yale University, the Mood Meter helps students:
- identify and name their emotions
- understand the intensity of their feelings
- choose healthy strategies for managing mood
By mapping emotions through energy (high–low) and pleasantness (pleasant–unpleasant), students build emotional awareness, empathy, and regulation skills.
Putting Learning Into Practice
To wrap up the unit, students recently took part in a “Time In” session that encouraged quiet reflection and creative expression. They created a collage based on prompts such as:
- values and the kind of person they want to be
- activities or hobbies that make them feel good
- a vision board for future goals
- a self-portrait using words and images
This project allowed students to express themselves creatively while applying the wellness tools they have learned throughout the program.
We are excited to share that this year the Personal Skills Program has expanded to include Grade 10 students. The Grade 10 sessions build on the foundations established in Grade 9 and give students more opportunities to deepen their understanding and practice the skills.
