The HuddlUp program launched at ROCORI Elementary in 2021 to improve student mental health outcomes. Now in its fifth year, the program is expanding to include high school students as “near-peer” mentors.
Early outcomes from classrooms that use the HuddlUp curriculum and activities have been promising, with students reporting improved peer relationships, lower anxiety, and better stress management skills.
“Relationships are the foundation of mental health,” said Jerry Sparby, HuddlUp founder and retired ROCORI Elementary principal. “We can’t expect good academic performance if we don’t support students’ mental wellbeing.”
Sparby and the HuddlUp team believe high school students will also benefit from the program, but from a different angle.
“Teens want to be part of something,” said Jim Meyer, HuddlUp coach and retired ROCORI teacher, adding, “they want to be seen and to be appreciated.”
Involving high school students as “near-peer” mentors who assist HuddlUp coaches in elementary classrooms brings another level of positive impact, according to Meyer.
This component of the HuddlUp program was piloted last year to huge success. Groups of high school students mentored younger peers with Huddlup’s play-based activities, modeling friendship building, problem-solving, and teamwork.
“You can’t teach better mental health,” said Brad Bauer, ROCORI teacher, “You improve mental health through active engagement.”
HuddlUp gets students out of their seats, away from screens, and involved in social play. By all measures, the program is accomplishing what it set out to do—improve student mental health and wellbeing. And now high school students are part of the solution.
Feedback from last year’s cohort of high school students was overwhelmingly positive.
“I absolutely love working with HuddlUp because I feel like I get to change kids’ lives one day at a time,” said ROCORI mentor Norah H. “It brings me so much joy to be with the children and feel like I’m making a difference for someone.”
Community members can also make a difference for students at ROCORI School District by helping reach a $30,000 matching grant challenge.
Local organizations that have backed the program include the ROCORI Area Foundation, Stearns County Health Department, and the Lions Clubs in Rockville, Richmond, and Cold Spring and the Bernick’s Foundation.
A generous anonymous donor has committed a $30,000 matching grant to support the expansion of HuddlUp at ROCORI School District. Individuals can help meet this match by visiting Huddlup.org or sending a gift to P.O. Box 1042, St. Cloud, MN 56302 with “ROCORI Matching Grant” in the memo.
HuddlUp Summer Team: Jim Meyer, Andy Marod, Brian Athman, Logan Weis, Brad Bauer
