The mission of the Chill Zone is to provide students with a place to relax, stretch out, and unwind during the stressful and often gloomy winter season. “As you enter Sturgis in the fall, everything is light and happy,” explains Carol Vari, one of the staff members in charge of the Chill Zone. In contrast, she notes, “Winter is when you have to grind through schoolwork.” Also, winter can be stressful because many students’ schedules are so busy with the demands of sports, extracurriculars, and the rigorous International Baccalaureate Program. It is imperative that students have an outlet in which they can forget about their responsibilities for a few moments, and the Chill Zone is the perfect place to do so.
The Chill Zone club meets Tuesdays and Thursdays at lunch, and the meetings teach students stress-management techniques that can be used on any day at any time. “We would really like to help students build a tool-chest of ways to relax, unwind, and take care of themselves,” Ms. Vari states. The number of people who visit the Chill Zone each week varies since stress comes and goes. The Chill Zone has an open-door policy.
Ms. Vari hopes that, in time, the club can become student-led. “The students can take charge of this club and practice their own ways to relax.” Students interested in taking on a leadership role should talk to Ms. Vari. This could be a great opportunity for individuals to learn leadership techniques as well as stress management skills.
Ms. Vari created the club because she recognized that simple stress relief methods are commonly overlooked throughout the day, even though they are vital to our well-being. “The techniques require only ten to fifteen minutes each day and can change the next 24 hours of your day,” she avers.
Razilee Mueller, a freshman at Sturgis East, agrees. “It is easy to wake up in the morning and immediately be overwhelmed with all the jobs you have to do in the day. It would be useful to learn ways I can start my day on the right foot.”
The Chill Zone Club has great potential to become a very popular club among the students here at Sturgis East. The Chill Zone Club takes place every Tuesday and Thursday in the Wellness Room in the Annex. Feel free to contact Ms. Vari with any questions!