EDUCATION

Special day at Ben Franklin teaches young Newark students life lessons

Dave Weidig
Newark Advocate

NEWARK - John Holman had aspirations of playing on Ohio State's highly-touted defensive line. But painful bone spurs and gout in his foot teamed up to keep him off the field for over a year.

"I know I had a football injury, but sometimes, there are even smaller things that can lead to depression and anxiety," Holman, a member of the Buckeyes' 2014 national championship team, told fourth and fifth graders at Newark's Ben Franklin Elementary. "Don't be afraid to ask for help." He is an assistant coach at Florida's IMG Football Academy, and also mentors students at Dublin Scioto High School.

Holman, other guests from the community, plus teachers filled Wednesday with life lessons for Ben Franklin students in grades K-5 on the final SEAS (Social, Emotional and Academic Success) Day, which was held for the second consecutive year at schools across the district. Guidance counselors, social workers, linkage coordinators, parent mentors and psychologists meet throughout the year to share ideas and strategies for helping kids, resulting in SEAS days.

"We want to give the kids strategies for dealing with emotions, respecting their peers, making healthy choices and having healthy relationships," Newark superintendent Doug Ute said upon establishing SEAS in 2018.

Abigail Aunt, Layla Told, and Jeremiah Fought, all students at Ben Franklin Elementary, participate in an active drumming class. The special class was part of a Newark City Schools Social, Emotional and Academic Success (SEAS) Day.

Holman said even with the distractions of video games and social media, kids need to start following rules now, so when they get older and become part of society, obeying the law occurs naturally.

"He talked to them about making good choices today, which will impact your future, and having a good attitude," said Ben Franklin fifth grade teacher Kelly Cooper, whose son Seth had Holman at OSU football camp five years ago and still stays in touch with him. "Stay focused in school to be successful. We wanted the kids to have an opportunity to meet someone who played for Ohio State."

Students also heard throughout the day from Impact Martial Arts, as well as Trevor Scott, co-owner of Elite1Fitness who talked to them about healthy living.

The most popular events were Painting in the Cafeteria, and Drumming in the Gym.

"By the end of the day, we will have over 320 paintings," said Ben Franklin principal Dena Cable-Miller. "It's something new this year, an art therapy piece of the program. Last week, they painted the background and today, they finished the snowman. They will take them home, the kids are excited and the parents have been asking about them. Everyone felt good about what they were doing, which is the purpose of today, and this is something they can do at home."

Over in the Ben Franklin gym, Cherry Valley Elementary music teacher Cara Noyes was leading students of all ages through Drum Alive, in which they beat on large exercise balls set atop five-gallon buckets to various music. But they also had to know when to click their sticks, drum on their neighbor's ball, and how to work together.

"It involves coordination, teamwork and focus, and it's a cardiovascular activity," said Noyes, a certified Drums Alive instructor who has taken it across the district and also taught it to staff. "My assistant here today said she's done, what, 10,000 steps? It also encourages creativity, because you create your own patterns."

"I was surprised," Cable-Miller admitted. "I thought it would be mainly a way to get rid of a lot of energy. But you have to make eye contact, and you can't touch each other's drumsticks. I didn't realize there was so much teamwork."

Ute said the SEAS days will continue to be an annual event, and they will try to improve on it every year. "Children learn best when they feel safe in their environment," he said last year. "And we hope days like this help our students to feel safe and secure."

dweidig@newarkadvocate.com

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Twitter: @noz75