On Monday March 23, Trinity Hall hosted its second annual Wellness Day. Wellness Day is a day dedicated towards student’s overall health, as they learn about healthy habits and partake in stress relieving activities. Students heard from speakers, practiced yoga, participated in mindful activities and crafts, and spoke to numerous health professionals. The day proved to be another success, remaining a favorite event among Trinity Hall students and faculty.
The day began with keynote speaker Ivy Harrington, Miss New Jersey USA. A Monmouth County native, Harrington shared her experience as a pageant queen and Division I college athlete. Harrington is a four time Miss New Jersey USA competitor, first competing in 2020 and placing in the top five in both 2022 and 2024, before finally winning the state title in 2025. In addition to her success on stage, she began her foundation MVP: Most Valuable Pivot, inspired by her basketball career at Morgan State University. From the court to crown, Harrington shared her journey of self confidence. She told her audience “to be the architect of your identity” and empowers young women to build their identities beyond sports in order to help them grow into confident leaders and change makers. Ivy hopes to shape the next generation of female athletes as confident young women.
After the keynote, upperclasswomen and underclasswomen divided to explore the two other aspects of the morning. The upperclasswomen were first guided into a series of wellness-themed breakout sessions. Here, students were able to discuss health topics with professionals and even some of Trinity’s own faculty members. Breakout sessions included: “Ask the Doctor” with Dr. Yehl, “Conversation with a Dermatologist” hosted by Dr. Peloro, “Ask a Sleep Expert” with Dr. Davis, and “Recovery and Injury Prevention” by Dr. Plyer. Mrs. O’Kelly, along with Mrs. Fairchild and Mrs. Gillen, hosted a workout session for students, and Mrs. Almedia hosted an “All Around Wellness” room where students could color, practice breathing exercises, discuss mental health strategies, or just take a minute to pause and reflect. Of course these sessions would not be complete without a visit from Trinity Hall’s favorite therapy dog, Willow!
Simultaneously, the underclasswomen remained in the Commons for a nutrition presentation called “Nourish To Flourish” which was hosted by Mrs. Baskakow and Ms. DeRobertis. They carefully went through the different parts of nutrition and students gained valuable information on healthy habits and nutritious foods. The session concluded with a Q&A portion and after this, the underclasswomen went to the breakout rooms in the hallway while the upperclasswomen went to the Commons for the nutrition info session.
After lunch, the community participated in breakout rooms hosted by the Student Council and Wellness Committee. The Arts Council had a room where students drew a group mural to destress. The Athletics Council took over the Commons for fun games like musical chairs, ping pong, cornhole and four square. The Academics Council had a zen room in an upstairs classroom where students practiced yoga. The Community Life Council had an assortment of games and Just Dance, while the SCOPE Council held a reflection session in the Chapel.Additionally, the Wellness Committee, composed of juniors who attended the B-Swell Summit last May and the junior leaders of Wellness Club, put together a thoughtful room about self-worth versus self-esteem.
Junior Julia McCarthy stated, “The Wellness Committee room was one of my favorite parts of the day! I loved the Post-It wall they had in between the two rooms, and the bracelet making with themes for each color bead was so well thought out and a fun activity for everyone to enjoy!”
Students and faculty at Trinity Hall are undoubtedly incredibly hardworking individuals, and the nonstop dedication can become tiring. Wellness Day is a day that is carefully designed and curated for the community to take a break and focus on one’s well being. From physical to mental and to spiritual health, Wellness Day has covered it all. A special thanks to Mrs. Thomas, Mrs. Petit, Mrs. Almeida and the Student Wellness Committee for making this special day such a success. Keep a lookout for what is in store for next year’s Wellness Day!