Churchill students learn to "chill" for finals week

Coloring books, cookies and calming music are helping Churchill High School students prepare for finals.

It’s called ChurCHILL Finals Fest, and it’s the brainchild of Churchill junior, Sarah Willmann.

“It’s just an event to help students handle their stress during a very stressful time,” said Willmann.

She remembers feeling stressed about finals as a freshman, so she wanted to come up with something that would help her and her peers.

ChurCHILL Finals Fest is like traditional tutoring but with an added focus on mental health.

“It’s just an hour-long study session with tips on stress management from various teachers and staff members and snacks and water and calming music,” said Willmann. “I just wanted to create an environment where students can study and not feel overwhelmed with all of it.”

Speaking of being overwhelmed, this sort of thing doesn’t just happen. Willmann, who will be the first to tell you she doesn’t like to be in the spotlight, had to present this idea to Churchill’s administration.

“A lot of my teachers were really supportive, and they’ve been really excited for it,” said Willmann.

After getting approval, she went to different businesses to request donations of snacks and giveaways for the students.

“We’ve got Dunkin’ Donuts, Las Palapas, Lenny’s, coloring books from a book company, stress balls,” said Willmann.

On this day, the students all left with a calming coloring book—something to give their minds rest and give them a break from their computer screens.

Principal Todd Bloomer couldn’t be more impressed with the program. He says ChurCHILL Finals Fest will be a new tradition for years to come.

And this might not surprise you, but Willmann already has ideas to make it bigger and better.

“I want to have therapy dogs and maybe yoga on the football field, maybe even a kite day,” said Willmann. “So in the future, hopefully, we can make this bigger.”

So, this idea, born out of a stressful finals week, will benefit Churchill students for years to come. This project is also helping Willmann earn her Gold Star from the Girl Scouts.

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