The Head to Cleats festival at Proprietors Park has been rescheduled to Sunday, April 26, from 1 to 6 p.m. due to inclement weather.
As part of Alice Costello Elementary School’s (ACES) Wellness Week, 11 Gloucester City High students from Nate’s Story Club helped lead fourth through eighth graders in conversations about negative self-talk, team-building, and the importance of taking care of themselves and others on Wednesday morning, April 15.
“Our high schoolers teaching and conversing with the youth is one of the pillars of Nate’s Story, and we are truly proud of both GHS and Alice Costello students in their participation,” school administrators said.
Nate’s Story Club is a student-led initiative focused on mental health awareness, coping skills, and creating a supportive school environment. Founded in memory of Nathaniel Kidd, the club empowers students to reduce stigma, conduct peer education, and participate in community outreach.
Gloucester High students Nadia Johnson, Addison Matkowski, Julianna Cerrone, Jill Guldin, Jacelyn Hennessey, Addison Chiodi, Keira Renshaw, Ava Moore, Grace Conley, Erin Thomson and Sienna DiNunzio gathered in the ACES cafeteria with Nate’s Story founder Michele Kidd and Advisor Elizabeth Sweda before visiting the classrooms.
Members of Nate’s Story Club participated in the ACES “Girls Just Want to Have Fun Tea Party and Let’s Hear it for the Boys Leadership Meeting to help teach our students the importance of self-care and self-love,” Kidd said.
The GHS students talked about Glimmers, small, micro-moments of joy, peace or safety that create a positive shift in the nervous system, acting as the opposite of triggers.
By intentionally noticing these brief, everyday experiences – like a warm beverage, sunlight or a smile – individuals can boost mental health, reduce stress, build emotional resilience and foster a sense of calm.
“The younger students look up to the older students, who will show them how to cope with difficult situations and deal with stress” said Sweda, who was very proud of the GHS students for participating in the Wellness Week activity at ACES.
“We have a 1980s theme to our week this year, focusing on the RAD emotions: Reset, Anxiety, and Depression,” said ACES teacher and organizer Michele Kidd. “I am so proud we have created an environment where students can learn from one another.”
The week started on Monday, April 13, with Pac-Man Emotions. “We created an interactive game to reintroduce the emotions we feel,” Kidd said. “Younger students partnered with older students to complete various activities.”
On Tuesday teachers used the Rubix Cube to talk to students about emotions
On Thursday, April 16, the ACES Parent Teacher Association has funded a BMX assembly for our students focused on responsible choices and on “we were walking on sunshine because our future is bright,” she said. The fun day featured a bike safety speaker and a freeze dance party for younger students, and a Press Your Luck game show for older students,” she said.
