A Benjamin Logan High School Rotary Youth Exchange student, left, talks with State Rep. Susan Manchester about differences between her home city in Finland and Bellefontaine. (Benjamin Logan Photo)
State Representative Susan Manchester made a recent stop at Benjamin Logan High School to learn more about their student-led mental health program — Time4You.
“I had the privilege of visiting Benjamin Logan Local School District. It’s clear that the students, teachers, and staff are truly dedicated to excellence. I’m proud to have championed quality education in the past and look forward to working with the Benjamin Logan community,” Rep. Manchester said.
During Time4You, students in the building choose an activity that helps them as individuals to prioritize self-care.
The program is organized by the student organization ROOTS which is open to students in grades 9-12. The premise of the organization is to design school-wide activities that demonstrate the core values of Benjamin Logan High School.
Rep. Manchester serves the people of House District 78, which encompasses Allen County and the northern portion of Auglaize County.
During her visit, she toured the high school to experience firsthand the Time4You activities including yoga, crafts, gardening, cooking, and more. She actively participated in an African Drum lesson with a small group of students led by band instructor, Myles Bowers.
“While the students see the activities as fun and engaging, the overall scope is to teach coping skills, build resiliency, and create a community spirit among the students,” High School Principal Annette Ramga-Alatorre shared.
“Representative Manchester was inspired by the energy in the building and was glad to see that BLHS is committed to making time to address student mental health needs.”
Funding for ROOTS and Time4You is provided in part by the United Way of Logan County Community Impact Fund. Trish Hemmelgarn and Chris Bair are the advisors for the ROOTS organization.
State Rep. Susan Manchester participates in an African Drum lesson at Benjamin Logan High School. (Benjamin Logan Photo)