Building Mindsets and Boundaries: 9th Graders Explore Identity, Inclusion, and Growth

On Wednesday, October 16th, our 9th graders at the Merle-Smith Campus participated in a series of workshops centered around their theme of self and identity, focusing on growth mindset, addressing bias, and setting boundaries.

Upper School Counselor Carissa Keichel led a workshop on setting healthy boundaries in relationships, where students explored real-life scenarios and practiced role-playing to reinforce these skills. With Cristina Usino, our Director of Belonging and Collective Well-Being, students deepened their understanding of bias, community, inclusion, and belonging, while exploring what well-being, individuality, and collectivity mean to them as 9th graders. They also learned about their ecosystem of care and the importance of being an upstander in building an inclusive and supportive community.

In Assistant Director and Dean of Students Jennifer TumSuden's Building a Growth Mindset workshop, students engaged in a creative, hands-on experience using an adapted version of Lego Serious Play to explore growth mindset and positive thinking routines. Melika Matlack, one of our Spanish Teachers, led a session on understanding growth vs. fixed mindset, challenging students with physical and mental activities designed to put their growth mindset into practice. These workshops offered powerful insights into self-discovery and the skills needed for personal growth and community building.