Project Wellness (PW)
[ Registration | Speakers | Frequently Asked Questions ]
Project Wellness, March 14, 2007, Merrimack College.
Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. Please plan extra time to arrive at Merrimack College because traffic has been a problem in the past.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact Megan Hatt, Assistant Principal at R.J. Grey. We look forward to seeing you on March 14th!
Registration Form Schedule Workshop Descriptions Directions to Merrimack CollegePW Speaker Web Sites
To find out more about some of our speakers, please check out their Web sites below.
Speakers | Web Sites |
| Heather Latham | REACH: Refuge, Education, Advocacy, Change |
| Liz Weiss and Janice Bissex | Meal Makeover Moms |
| Nora Mann | Middlesex District Attorney's Office |
| Lisa Sjostrom | Helping Kids Thrive |
| Jessica Cunningham | MEDA: Eating Disorders |
| Impact Model Mugging Representative | Impact Model Mugging |
PW FAQs
Below are some frequently-asked questions about Project Wellness.
What is Project Wellness? |
Project Wellness is a day for all seventh grade students and one adult family member to attend workshops together on various topics related to the tough issues adolescents and their families face, including eating and nutrition, sleep habits, depression, and drugs and alcohol. The purpose of this important program is to promote communication and trust between our students and adults, focus on a healthy lifestyle for our families, and support the positive self-esteem of students. |
My child and I already have a good relationship. Why should we attend Project Wellness? |
Project Wellness was created through a collaboration with junior high administration, the RPTSO (Regional Parent Teacher Student Organization), and CAFY (Community Alliance for Youth) as a comprehensive response to the alarming results of the Emerson YRBS (Youth Risk Behavior Survey) 2000. According to that survey and subsequent surveys in 2002 and 2004, our students are engaging in unsafe behavior, ranging from poor eating habits, to feeling depressed, to experimenting with drugs and alcohol. On a positive note, the research clearly shows that open communication with adults significantly reduces adolescents' risk for becoming involved in risky behaviors. See the Emerson YRBS (Youth Risk Behavior Survey) 2004 results. Project Wellness goes beyond this by providing information and skills that facilitate this communication and empower families with knowledge. It is difficult to know everything about the challenges that our students face, and this event is not built on the premise that our families have problems or cannot handle these challenges. Rather, Project Wellness is an opportunity to learn new information, to share ideas with other families, and to spend a day focusing on our children. |
Could Project Wellness be held on campus? |
The logistics of an event this size- 1,000 people attending over 30 workshops and eating lunch- exceed the districts' facilities. More importantly, an off-site environment provides an opportunity for students and adults to focus on the event and appreciate the significance of dedicating a day to their well-being without distractions. The committee evaluates the facility each year and expends considerable effort in locating the best location for the event, both physically and financially. The event will be held at Merrimack College in North Andover, MA for the fifth straight year because the facility meets our needs and supports our efforts by working out the most financially sound agreement for us. |
How is Project Wellness funded? |
Project Wellness is funded through the generosity of community donations, grants, and registration fees. This event is not funded through the appropriated regional school budget. Although our costs continue to increase, the committee does its best to defer to direct cost to the students and their families. If you know of potential funding sources please contact Linda Minkoff, Fundraising Coordinator, via email to Minkoffls@aol.com. To make a donation, please make checks payable to R.J. Grey and mail to the attention of Project Wellness at R.J. Grey Junior High, 16 Charter Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720. |