Murray Schools self-care, stress management event

Murray students participated in a school-wide Self-Care/Stress Management event during the afternoon on Wed., Feb. 13. Each classroom represented a station where students could learn and practice a self-care or stress management technique. Students were able to rotate between four stations of their interest. Everyone, staff and students alike, appeared to have a great time. The response overall has been very positive.

The event was planned and organized by Murray’s school counselor, Kimberly Elsberry, with help from the entire staff at Murray. It was truly a group effort, as each staff member prepared for their assigned station. Funding for supplies was granted through the Clarke County Organization of Philanthropic Services (CCOPS). The CCOPS focus this year was promoting and improving health and wellness among Clarke County students, and this event met those qualifications.

The idea of a Self-Care/Stress Management Day was presented at the Iowa School Counselors Association conference back in November of 2018. Elsberry attended this session, and was thrilled to implement the event at Murray. Having stress in everyday life is normal, and learning to manage stress is vital for overall health. This event taught students the importance of social emotional learning and provided them with coping skills to help them throughout life.