Students at Luray Middle School broke away from their classroom routine on Friday to take time for their mental health.
This year, Luray Middle School has held “Spike Day” on certain Fridays, where students in good standing with the school can take an hour at the end of the day to participate in activities like games or music instead of their lessons. However, Spike Day last week was a little different.
After two suicides shocked students and faculty at the school in the early winter, Harmony Housden, an eighth-grader at Luray Middle School, decided to do something to help her fellow students fight seasonal depression. He started with some smaller activities, such as bringing board games for lunch, sharing a health-related message during the morning announcement several days a week, or even having a DJ come to lunch on Fridays. The effort culminated in a special Spike Day on Friday.
“I decided to build this project to hopefully teach students, and maybe even staff, a better way to handle their emotions, think in a more positive way, and hopefully prevent incidents like the ones that have happened recently,” said Housden. “I focus most of the things I say and the activities I do on movement, music and mindfulness to show that many things can affect the way you think, and act, and handle life.”
Housden worked with Luray County Public Schools administrators and faculty at her school as well as with local organizations to organize a special Spike Day focused on helping students learn coping skills and mental fitness. Some students practice yoga in our school’s basement, while others learn about healthy eating habits.
Kaiya Devine-Wayland started her Spike Day by making an affirmation flyer, coloring in the words “Make your own sunshine.” Of all the things Housden has held at Luray Middle School, Devine-Wayland said she likes the music during lunch on Fridays the best.
“I love it when they play music when we eat lunch,” Devine-Wayland said. “If we want, we can stand up and dance.”
Mary-Nelson Kramer, a seventh grader, was playing a game with her friends in the cafeteria.
“It’s pretty interesting,” Kramer said. “The DJ is really good. It’s really fun to dance while you’re having lunch.”
Payton Lucas, an eighth-grader, said that even though some activities weren’t her first choice, she enjoyed playing board games with Housden at lunch.
“I like the cafeteria where all the games are,” Lucas said. “We play chess. Harmony does most things at school, like a lot. It’s pretty good.”
Lindy Burns, a family and consumer science teacher at Luray Middle School, advised Housden on the project. He said he was happy to see one of his students working hard and getting tangible results.
“Harmony is really good to work with,” Burns said. “She is a self-starter. When I give her a task, she goes above and beyond. For me, the best part is watching Harmony and just seeing her grow as a leader. We don’t often, as teachers, get to see what happens. To get to see what we talked about in class make a difference in her life, and to watch her get the opportunity to use it, has just been really inspiring.”
As projects continue and the end of the school year draws closer, Housden said she’s a little nervous, but still excited for the future.
“Tomorrow, we’re having a bake sale where I plan to advertise this even more to community members,” said Housden. “This is like my work activity, but I think I will still do the game on Friday. I noticed a lot of people who like to play it; they are grouped together at the table.
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