RE Log Spring 2021

40 Ransom Everglades LOG SPRING 2021 Student Six students attended the National Association of Independent Schools Online Student Diversity Leadership Conference in November, as a dozen faculty, staff and administration participated in the parallel NAIS Online People of Color Conference. The four-day, all-day remote conferences December 1-4 were designed to encourage leadership, discussion, explora- tion and initiative on issues related to diversity, equity and inclusion. The People of Color Conference theme was “New Decade, New Destinies: Challenging Self, Changing Systems, and Choosing Justice.” For years, Ransom Everglades has sent students to the SDLC, which is in its 27th year and has previously taken place in cities around the nation. The 2020 RE delegation participated virtually from home or RE’s cam- puses. The student-attendees: Branden Cabrera ’23, Phillip Craft ’22, Cecilia Granda-Scott ’22, Jamie Lockhart ’21, Georgia Murphy ’21 and Zoey Weiss ’21. The faculty/staff/administration attendees: Head of School Penny Townsend, Head of the Upper School Patricia C. A. Sasser, Director of Inclusion and Community Engagement Carla Hill, Chief Technology Officer Linda Lawrence, Director of Admission Amy Sayfie Zichella ’93 , Middle School Dean of Studies Doreen Johnson, Admission Associate Tyrone Croom and faculty members Brandon King, Jeannine Lehr, Desiree Masucci, Raheem Jackson and Juan Arrastia. Students took the lead on health education at Ransom Everglades for the fifth year, with a select group of juniors and seniors meeting monthly with freshmen to guide them through wellness matters ranging from anxiety to substance abuse. The peer-to-peer meetings are designed to promote open and honest discussion, and to ensure RE’s freshmen are equipped to make healthy decisions. The 27 juniors and 25 seniors leading the meetings are Peer Health Educators trained by the Health Information Project News RE sends delegation to Diversity Leadership Conference Students lead health and wellness education (HIP); they are assisted by faculty advisor Alberto Adatto. The HIP meetings occur monthly during advisory, where the juniors and seniors guide freshmen through various health and wellness modules that address topics including suicide, sex education, obesity, abuse and depression. The peer-to- peer education program represents just one piece of Ransom Everglades’ larger commitment to health and wellness.