RE Log Spring 2022

SPRING 2022 Ransom Everglades LOG 19 W hen Ransom Everglades acquired the La Brisa property in summer 2016, there was much to celebrate on its nearly seven acres: vast green space and stately trees, a 1920s main house and thicket of mangroves near the water’s edge. There was also a small cottage nestled among vegetation near the front of the property that went largely unmentioned in realtors’ brochures: a Key West-style bungalow that once served as a guest house. The charming property has since been transformed into the Lampen Family Wellness Center, a peaceful enclave whose sole function is to provide care for RE students. The center is a true retreat on the Ransom Campus, and it’s the most visible piece of RE’s growing commitment to its students’ health and wellness. It is, however, merely a piece. The journey from adolescence to adulthood has never been easy, and research suggests it is getting harder. Studies have shown the rising influence of social media and the social isolation that resulted from the pandemic threaten the wellbeing of today’s youth. That has brought a new urgency – and scrutiny – to schools’ efforts to take care of their students. Since the days of Paul Ransom and Marie Swenson, Ransom Everglades has worked to shape young people who care about the surrounding world and each other. Today’s students also learn the importance of “self-care,” an expression not even in existence when Ransom founded his school for boys. With the support of RE’s board of trustees – including Susan Lampen, the wellness center namesake, and Sloan Lindemann Barnett, the author of Green Goes with Everything: Simple Steps to a Healthier Life and a Cleaner Planet – the RE administration has made Student Life and Wellness one of the school’s highest priorities. Ransom Everglades has implemented new programs, empowered faculty leaders, enhanced facilities and encouraged students’ participation in their own wellness. The quest is serious, and so are the stakes. “We understand the critical importance of focusing on students’ emotional, social and physical health,” Head of School Penny Townsend said. “Taking care of the whole student requires tending and thoughtful decision-making every day – it’s not a one-time problem to be solved, or a box to be checked. It’s a journey. We are committed to that journey.” Here’s a look at the tools and people Ransom Everglades is using to nurture the whole student. Student Wellness Board: In its first year, this five-member board set out to enhance the commitment to self-care on RE’s campuses and encourage students to take a leadership role in their own wellness. The group has used upper school assemblies, Wellness Wednesdays and an Instagram account to connect with peers. Another student club, HealthcaRE, has also been active in other wellness initiatives, holding blood drives and personal-care drives. Faculty/Staff Health and Wellness Committee: Formed in the spring of 2020, this committee includes representatives from both campuses and many departments – security, technology, facilities, counseling, nursing and athletics. During the pandemic, members attended professional development seminars and conferences, gaining knowledge that helped the school weather the challenges of COVID-19. The committee continues seeking to better integrate health and wellness into all teaching and learning at RE. works to take care of the whole student Ransom Everglades Lampen Family Wellness Center