Based on a survey conducted by St. Louis University's Medical School in Spring of 2015, Irvington High School students (like many other schools across the U.S.) have unusually high levels of depression and anxiety and low levels of resilience.   Irvington High School has high academic standards - this has its benefits and drawbacks. The benefits include higher test scores (which is great for the school) but the drawback is that it breeds too much competition and not enough cooperation (students are vying against each other to get spots in elite colleges). Knowing that one simple solution does not exist, we are actively trying to attack these issues with a number of methods.

 

 

One of our solutions is Spartan SGX Training. Since 2014, we have offered free training to our school community (staff and students). Our belief and reason for the training is to attack the issues above, namely high depression and anxiety, low resilience, and not enough cooperation. The physical exercise serves to make students feel better and take students' minds off of the causes of their issues, leading to a decrease in depression and anxiety. Next, the SGX coaches work to teach students to, literally, overcome obstacles with an emphasis on building resilience; if students can overcome challenges here, they should be able to translate these successes to other areas of their lives. Finally, the best bonding experience is when a group of people get out of their comfort zones together. This has already been a unique opportunity for students, staff, and parents to bond and become a stronger community.

 

 

Since Mission Peak Spartans began. Ty Rawlinson has given his time and services to Irvington High School staff and students through coaching, donations, and support of student-led events at Irvington like the annual zombie run. Ty and his team have personally built and paid for obstacles for the students and staff to use. All of this has come at no cost to the school.  

 

.With the Spartan Edge Kid's program, the children will be learning team building, problem solving, a winning mindset, compassion, positive and encouraging language, goal setting, body awareness and muscle groups. We, at MPS could not be more excited to provide this opportunity to now include our youngest future Spartans.

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Look for schedule updates soon as Covid-19 restrictions ease.