News Details

October 2024

There’s more than meets the eye in a well-attended student group at Chapel Hill 7th & 8th Grade Center. Students in the school’s bracelet-making club are creating beautiful pieces of jewelry, and enjoying some positive mental health benefits as well. 

“It is off to a good start this year,” Brandon Jackson, eighth-grade counselor at the school, said of the club in September. “We have already met three times, and 142 students have participated so far.”

Brandon was able to expand the club this year after receiving a grant from the Wayne Township Education Foundation. Brandon’s is one of 112 new projects the foundation has funded this school year.

The concept of the bracelet-making club is simple. Students gather in the Chapel Hill cafeteria, sitting at tables with little containers of beads. They string the beads together to make bracelets, enjoying both the calming effect of working on the bracelets and the camaraderie of their fellow students.

This hands-on, creative activity not only leads to attractive bracelets - it can do wonders for the students’ emotional well being, too. 

“If I’m stressing about a test, I can use the bracelet to look at and remind myself of a way to calm down,” said one student. “I can also play with the beads - the texture of the beads helps me.”

Brandon started the club several years ago, after completing the Mental Health Certification Program at Butler University. The bracelet-making activity is aimed, in part, at increasing students’ mindfulness.

“The purpose for my sessions is to help students learn how to be present in the moment, and to decrease stress and anxiety,” Brandon said. Learning to regulate their emotions and recognize alternatives to risk-taking behaviors are additional goals of the club. Another purpose is to create a supportive atmosphere for students, especially those who may be struggling with mental health issues.

“Students who join the bracelet-making club will be allowed to connect with their peers,” Brandon said, “which will foster a sense of belonging, purpose, and creativity.” 

Brandon is collecting data from the students to measure the impact of the club’s activities on their emotional well-being.

“Students need to have a space where they can process their feelings in a positive way while nurturing their mental health in the process,” he said. “The number one goal for every educator is to ensure that their student one day will graduate from high school and become a productive citizen in society.”

ABOUT THE WAYNE TOWNSHIP EDUCATION FOUNDATION
The Wayne Township Education Foundation (WTEF) provides community leadership to enrich, engage, and stimulate teaching and learning in the Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township. WTEF accomplishes this by supporting school programs and resources, while recognizing excellence among students and staff. To learn more about WTEF and/or establishing a named, designated fund, call 317-988-7966, visit wtef.wayne.k12.in.us, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter @WayneTwpEdFound.