River Rouge Schools Emphasizes Wellness Along with Academics

Even before the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, the River Rouge School District had adopted a system which allows schools to support the students' social-emotional learning, mental health, and physical wellness. Under the leadership of Superintendent Dr. Derrick Coleman, the district has spent the past decade assessing the needs of students and families and coming up with supportive services to meet those needs, whether they be emotional, physical, social, or financial. Coleman believes providing access to resources for families leads to successful educational opportunities.

Bacari Alexander was hired last summer to serve as Director of Culture, Health and Wellness for the district. Alexander has expanded the district's mission to utilize the department to address whole-person issues as related to physical and mental well-being. "We had other people that held the position that I now have, but we've changed the title of it with respects to addressing the underlying issues of trauma. We're a trauma-informed and trauma-sensitive school district, but we also look at ourselves district-wide as a healing organization," he says. "When we talk about trauma, trauma has no socioeconomic level to it-- all kids are impacted. The nature of our open school district means not all of our children fighting poverty, but every child and some of the adults that serve them are dealing with trauma; COVID-19 has left nobody unprotected from the traumatic effects of a change in routine, a change in occupation, a change in income, or sheltering in place. There are some inevitable effects of the pandemic era that we are also looking to address."

He adds that the district's social workers and school psychologists have identified grief and loss as the prominent difficulty students are currently facing as a result of the ongoing pandemic. The consequences of grief, isolation, and upheaval of routine affect not only students but staff as well. Alexander says the district has introduced holistic practices such as mindfulness meditation and yoga for students and staff and provides quiet areas throughout the buildings for anyone who needs to take a breather and regroup.

Also currently in progress in the schools is the addition of the district's Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAI) Program. Facility dogs, similar to therapy dogs, are currently being trained to be present in the classrooms, library, and outdoors at recess. Dogs will also be present in the district's offices to be a calming influence to those working there. AAI Director Shakesha Alexander says, "Dogs offer so much comfort for our adult staff and faculty as well as our children." In addition, a Reading Assistance Dogs (RAD) Program will allow students to practice reading with a furry friends and the Teacher's Pet Program will bring small animals into the classrooms to give students an opportunity to learn how to care for them and develop responsibility and empathy. The district has also partnered with Detroit Horse Power to give 9th and 10th graders an opportunity to participate in a leadership program. Students will learn critical skills and responsibility while learning how to ride and care for a horse.

Currently four puppies are being housed at the STEM Academy in a classroom that is being transformed into the Pup Culture Lab puppy daycare. Once essential dog training is completed and the pups have attained certification and reached one year old, they will begin working as facility dogs in the district's buildings. As the puppies are now being kept in the school, they will make ideal facility dogs as they will be familiar with the sounds and smells of the schools. Students stop by and visit frequently. "They come in to the daycare and spend time with the animals. We're not necessarily taking them to the classrooms yet so we're using the daycare as their sole form of socialization," Alexander adds.

Bacari Alexander says despite the disruption the pandemic has brought, attendance at the district's elementary and middle schools has remained near 100 percent. He says it reflects the effectiveness of the services and supports the district has provided, and points to a feeling of connection and community among students and staff.

"What I must share about our young people is that they have been extremely resilient. We have been blessed to be able to brag about this being one of the largest graduating classes in River Rouge Schools' history, we're north of 245 students graduating this year," he says. "This is just an exciting time for anybody to come visit the friendly shores of River Rouge. We're building competitive students that are still able to actualize their dreams and still be college-bound and competitive students even in the midst of a pandemic."