By Chester Charter Healthy Highlights reporters | CCSA staff members say they participate in chess, cooking, kickball, and other group activities to reduce stress and have fun, according to recent interviews with the Healthy Highlights.
Mrs. Piroso, a fifth-grade teacher who is the faculty adviser for Healthy Highlights, has formed friendships by playing chess online.
“It allows me to play with people… all over the world whenever I want,” Mrs. Piroso said. “I like doing this because it’s challenging and I like seeing how others play.”
Chess helps Mrs. Piroso feel like she is part of something, she said.
Connecting with others can help people deal with stress and improve their quality of life, according to experts at the Mayo Clinic, a large, well-known health organization. For instance, you may go to a class or an event if you know people you care about will be there too.
Group activities include playing sports like soccer, but they also can involve participating in knitting clubs, art classes, choruses, community cleanups, and food drives.
Mrs. Ellis, a high school science teacher, connects with others at CCSA by being part of the school calendar committee. “I want people in the high school to know what’s going on.”
Mr. Jackson, a one-on-one teacher, said he played soccer, baseball, and basketball in high school. He was the captain of his varsity soccer team.
He said being on a team taught him about leadership, gave him a sense of belonging, and motivated him to keep improving. It also helped reduce stress and gave him a more positive outlook on life, he said.
Mrs. Henriquez, a special education teacher, said she connects with others through her role as a CCSA mentor teacher. She helps new teachers by answering questions and following up with them to help them feel comfortable in their jobs, she said.
Mrs. Shubert, a high school social worker, said she cooks and does outdoor activities with her sorority sisters. “Cooking is fun,” she said, and helps her connect with other people.
“I think every adult can play a sport,” said Mr. Merlino, an ELA support teacher, who plays kickball. His brother-in-law encouraged him to get involved.
Mr. Merlino said he likes to compete and meet new people. He also offered some advice: “It’s okay to try new activities because it let’s you have more friends.”
Illustration by Elizabeth & Aubrey, 7th grade, MaST, 2024-2025.
