Ongoing Wellness Initiative Launched at All-School Assembly

The assembly began with an image parodying the viral TV show The Summer I Turned Pretty, reimagined as The School Year I Turned Mindful About Phone Usage. The image prompted laughter while conveying the overarching message about self-awareness regarding technology.

Delano connected the wellness initiative—developed by Rivers’ school counselors, Adams, and the dean of students from each division—to Rivers’ new mission statement: “When we think about tech and wellness, we are thinking about not only how technology impacts you—but also our community as a whole,” said Delano. “We want to be mindful that every time we engage with one another face-to-face, we are building on our community of connection and belonging. How do we create an environment where we are sharing experiences, engaging across differences, and not walking around the halls with our faces in our phones?”

Rather than delivering a lecture about technology, Delano and Adams designed the assembly to launch conversations and prompt students to share their experiences. “You are the experts in your own experiences with technology, and we want to learn from you,” Delano said, noting the importance of having the right tools to make mindful decisions about technology and phone usage.

 

Adams emphasized that the initiative is about more than rules. “While policies are a component of how we want to approach positive use of phones, we know an effective approach also includes educating students and engaging in fun activities that spark conversation and reflection,” he said. “We want to make sure that we are building a community.” By fostering open conversations and collaboration, Rivers aims to bridge the gaps in how students, faculty, and families understand the role of technology in daily life.

After the brief presentation, Upper School advisories met in the library and Campus Center for a tech and wellness trivia exercise. Groups engaged with questions such as, “What is the average amount of time a Rivers Upper School student with an iPhone spends on their phone daily?” (answer: between four and six hours), and “Find someone who keeps their phone in another room while they are doing schoolwork.” These prompts sparked conversations about habits, challenges, and potential changes students could make. When asked which app claimed the most time, students overwhelmingly chose TikTok. Students in the Upper School are required to turn their cell phones into designated red bins at the beginning of every class and collect them at the end of class.

Middle School advisories gathered on Parsons Quad, where students discussed how device use affects sleep, where devices should be charged overnight, and the importance of keeping technology away from the dining table. Many found it helpful when parents enforced “no phones at the dining table” or prevented late-night scrolling, but fewer agreed that restrictions on streaming or entertainment apps were beneficial. Middle School students turn in their phones and smartwatches each morning and receive them back at the end of the day, part of a school-wide policy designed to reduce distractions and foster focus and connection. 

Grade 9 students participate regularly in wellness seminars and advisories to address patterns of phone and other technology use. “Our approach has always been to put education before policy,” said Delano. “Students deserve to have all of the information they can about the devices they are using daily, as opposed to simply saying something like ‘social media is bad for you.’”

Adams noted that students are already taking steps towards healthier use. “My conversations with students have been energizing and motivating as they share thoughtful and honest insights about their use of devices and social media,” he said. “It’s also become clear that many of our students are already quite mindful about their use of social media and phones as they do things like turn on app time limits, create custom focus modes, and keep their phones in another room when doing work.”

Monday’s assembly and ensuing activities were just one element of Rivers’ continued focus on technology and wellness. Additional advisory activities, guest speakers, and ongoing conversations will be woven throughout the year to continue engaging students in building mindful habits. As Delano noted, “We aim to equip students with more tools to manage the distractions and pitfalls of technology and social media—aligning with our overall mission of preparing them to pursue excellence in all areas of their lives.”