"Road to Wellness 2024" organised by Sir John Wilson School (SJWS) took place on November 30, 2024, at the school's main campus in United City. The event sought to emphasise the significance of physical and mental health and raise awareness about these issues amongst its students, teachers, parents, and alumni through a holistic approach. 

Sanumkia, a teacher of History and Geography in the middle section of SJWS, said, "October 10 is World Mental Health Day, and the event is an extension of that. We have had many events before this and Road to Wellness is sort of a conclusion to everything we have done before this. Of course, there is nothing final about discussions surrounding mental well-being. We want to do something every year to make wellness more prominent."        

Photo: Orchid Chakma

The event included several activities and attractions such as food stalls, indoor games, a magic card-making station, and a photo exhibition of the students, parents and staff amongst other things. SJWS also set up four panel discussions, each addressing a different aspect of mental and physical well-being. The panel discussions revolved around bullying at school, healthy and stress-free lifestyles, managing diverse expectations of society, digital wellness, and professional and personal life balance. Parents, students, teachers, and experts from their respective fields were in attendance as panellists.

Photo: Orchid Chakma

Alongside panel discussions, the event included sessions on comedy, yoga and meditation, Zumba, dance, storytelling and art therapy. By actively engaging with such mediums, the sessions were designed to educate its attendees on how these creative outlets can be used as tools to improve one's well-being.

Photo: Orchid Chakma

"Encouraging us to think about wellness is a great idea and having the parents involved is crucial. We must be equipped with the tools to take care of our mental well-being. So, having children of this generation be aware early on about this is important," remarked a parent of the school about the event.

Ashique Nabhan, a fourth grader at SJWS, said, "The event has been really fun and enjoyable, and I wish that the school put together events like these more often. My favourite part of it had to be playing the game: catch the stick." 

School clubs such as the Terrahope Club and Wilsoners' Paw Squad were also present at the event with their respective kiosks. The Terrahope club offered customised potted plants while Wilsoner's Paw Squad set up a donation box to collect funds for the school's pets.

Photo: Orchid Chakma

Sabrina Shaheed, Principal of SJWS, said, "We wanted to make sure that both parents and children feel supported. The photography exhibition that we have put together – where students, parents, and employees submitted photos of what makes them happy – really does indicate that it's the simple things that make all of us happy. These are the things we should be focusing on rather than constantly asking kids to focus on good grades and individual achievements. While we are proud of our students who attain recognition, it isn't only about the awards. It is about how you feel in your mind and body which is what the Road to Wellness has been designed to emphasise."