Windsor Proves it Still Has Character

In 2015, Windsor High School was designated a National School of Character. WHS continues to demonstrate that with Hope Week, a week dedicated to spreading awareness to suicide, mental illness, and mental health in general.
Hope Week was started and ran by students Micaela Kuhns and Shawna Hromnak. Last year after a suicide at Desoto High School, Kuhns set up a day at WHS where everyone was encouraged to wear yellow in support of Desoto. This was partial inspiration for starting Hope Week this year.
Hromnak said, “It was (Micaela’s idea). She had mentioned something about it last year and I thought it was a really good idea. And then, over summer break I went to Fulton, a leadership workshop camp, and one of the projects was you had to make up something you could do at your school. My group at Fulton decided to make a hope week. I told Micaela that, and I was like ‘We made up this (entire) week,’ and she said ‘Let’s do it.’”
Kuhns and Hromnak took that plan and used it as a basis for WHS’s Hope Week that took place from September 9 to September 13, 2019.
“Monday, we made a sign and that said ‘Windsor stands up to suicide’ and everyone signed it. I just thought it was a good visual thing to have in the hallways so that people know there are people in our school that care about (them and suicide awareness),” Kuhns said.
On Tuesday, students had the option to make free, nice notes to any student they wanted. The note came with a sucker and the author’s name on it, so the recipient would know who it was from. Once they wrote the note, they were the ones who had to give it to their note’s recipient.
Kuhns said, “(The nice notes’) purpose was to spread positivity and let people know that they care about them.”
The activity on Wednesday was yoga in the morning. All students were allowed to participate, and its purpose was to give those students a relaxed mind and body.
“(The mind and body) go very hand-and-hand, and when your mind is relaxed and your mind feels healthy then you are going to feel more mentally relieved and not as stressed out,” Kuhns said.
“Thursday was donation day. We took donations for the Mental Health of America organization. They are a not-for-profit organization. They do stuff to help prevent suicide, talk to kids who struggle with that stuff, and talk to other organizations that work for the same type of thing,” Kuhns said.
The final activity planned for the week was on Friday. Students were encouraged to wear yellow. The yellow is to promote suicide awareness. As pink is used to support those with breast cancer, yellow is the color used for the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program.
While Hope Week may have only lasted 5 days, Kuhns and Hromnak want students to know that it is something that needs to be participated in year-round.
Kuhns said, “We need to talk about (suicide). It’s a conversation that needs to be had. It should be a part of our curriculum in health class but it’s not. I really hope that next year, after seeing all of the kids participate in it that there are kids that care about (suicide awareness) other than me, Shawna and Student Council.”
Suicide prevention and mental illness awareness are important topics that need to be focused on more. Seeing Windsor High School continue to demonstrate its character with Hope Week is great progress that Kuhns plans to continue next year with help from Hromnak if needed (as she is graduating).
Kuhns mentioned hopes of the school board allowing for a suicide prevention speaker to come and talk to students next year, like speakers do for distracted driving.
For now, Kuhns and Hromnak want to get across the message to those struggling, or those who know people who are struggling, that they aren’t alone.
“People are there for you if you need it. If you need help, ask because we are here for you, we support you, and we want you to feel better,” Hromnak said.
