Meghen Tuttle

Foxcroft participates in the Independent School Health Check, an anonymous survey that is designed to give independent schools, such as Foxcroft, information about student life so that schools can develop effective programs to encourage healthy student behavior. In addition, the merger of the information from individual schools into a comprehensive database provides Foxcroft with a larger context in which to view our students. The emerging trends from the data gathered by this survey also shape and inform best practices for girls and identify the skills they need to healthfully and successfully navigate adolescence. Tuttle has used the data from the two ISHC surveys that Foxcroft has participated in (2015 and 2018) to inform the Wellness Program curriculum to address the specific wellness challenges of the Foxcroft community in a deliberate and cohesive manner.

Since the program was conceived in 2014-15, it has grown each year and now consists of a Wellness and Digital Literacy required course for freshmen as well as a financial literacy program for sophomores, juniors, and seniors. In addition, throughout the year, there are seminars, activities, and wellness events. The first Wellness Weekend took place when the students returned from winter break, and it included workshops and activities dedicated to improving wellbeing.

For 2018-19, Tuttle worked over the summer with Assistant Head of School for Student Life Emily Johns and others to create a new Planner that incorporates aspects of the Wellness curriculum with the School’s shared values of respect, integrity, kindness, and service as well as the theme for this year, “Trailblazing.” Tuttle and Johns presented their results at the National Coalition for Girls’ Schools Global Forum and again to parents during Parents’ Weekend. Other aspects of her Kenan work included expanding programming for upperclassmen, particularly as they approach graduation, and creating regular wellness offerings for the adults in the Foxcroft community.