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                                 with the territory. But what is neither natural nor intuitive is the need to deliberately dwell on the positive. Leveraging data-driven strategies from the exciting new field of positive psychology, RFs go out of their way to “hunt the good stuff.” They “shout out” good behavior every shift. They “strength spot” on purpose. These efforts culminate each month when the RFs send the parents of each of their advisees an email fondly named, “Catching Your Kid Being Good.” These missives
notice, name, and callout what is positive in the life of each dormer. Next year, the role of the RF will expand. RFs will assist dormers that are enrolled in the brand-new Dorm Honors Program to more deeply live out the Priory’s commitment to balance. Using Fitbit Inspire HRs, dormers will be able to monitor their REM sleep and measure the quality of their cardiovascular exercise each day. For the first time, dormers will be able to accurately track their physical and psychological health over the course of the busy school year. These dormers will receive mentorship from the RFs, Dean of Residential Life, and the Counseling Department during weekly “Wellbeing Collaborations” during which they will have the chance to debrief their individual results. A pilot program was ventured last year with extremely positive results for the students involved. Not surprisingly, RFs leapt at the opportunity to highlight dormer successes: “Suuley got more than eight hours of sleep last night!”, “Gabby got her 10,000
steps yesterday!”
Last year, dormers were asked to reflect on the policies and
people associated with the Residential Life Program. One-hundred percent of them felt the “RFs were helpful in building community.” Eighty-five percent felt the “RFs supported [their] individual, cultural, academic, social, and emotional needs.” These results are
not accidents. They speak to each RF’s capacity to make kids feel known and loved. They highlight what positivity makes possible. They suggest that life has never been better in the dorms.
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