Swim-A-Thon Information
Breaking the Waves, a charitable foundation dedicated to raising awareness of the epidemic of adolescent depression, will host its 4th annual swim-a-thon on Sunday, January 17. The St. Joe's Prep swim team will be joined by the Merion Mercy Academy swiMMAs for a night of prayer, community, swimming and fun. More than 50 athletes will convene for mass at 9:30pm, before taking turns swimming in the Prep pool from 11:00pm until 6:00am. Filled with music, sport and games, the overnight event tries to capture the many aspects of the young peoples’ lives. Teachers, parents, coaches, classmates, teammates, friends and siblings are present on this cold, dark winter night. This is a symbolic yet bold statement that this same support group will work to see teens through dark battles with depression.
This year's theme "There’s no such thing as TMI" challenges us to question our means of communication. The keynote address, offered by Beth McNamara, a licensed counselor, examines voids that cell phones and social networking can create.
As in past years, Prep students will be asked to take the BTW Pledge. We ask that all of us: Be aware that depression affects our community. Be open to a friend in need. Be brave in asking for help from one or more of the many caring adults at the Prep.
Breaking the Waves raises money through individual sponsorship and at-large donations for organizations that treat at-risk youth. Donations may be made online here. For more information about Breaking the Waves, please contact Paul Morrissey at pmorrissey@sjprep.org.
Keynote Information
This year, our keynote address will be delivered by Beth McNamara, a licensed counselor who works with young people. Beth will share her insight on the usage of cell phones, texting and social networking. While parents and schools pay much attention to cyber-bullying and other harmful uses of technology, this talk will address whether we are caring for the young man with feelings of isolation because his phone doesn't receive 100 texts a day and wonder whether we are losing sight of the young woman who by logging onto her home computer is reminded that she doesn't have as many "Facebook friends" as her peers. According to Prep swim coach Paul Morrissey, who started the program, "these young people suffer silently in this vacuum of modern communication."
Pledge Information
BTW has reached out to several other schools in the area and has asked them to join in Unity Day. In the weeks following the overnight event, thousands of students will be asked to sign the Breaking the Waves pledge and seek out a trusted adult in their lives to take the pledge with and for them.
Schools have been asked to set aside 16 minutes of the hectic school day to be used for guided meditation, communal prayer, written reflection, silence, music or poetry. These high-achieving, high-stress students will take time to just be - be together, be at peace with oneself, be united in purpose. The 16 minutes symbolizes the harrowing statistic that one person in America kills him or herself every 16 minutes. What a statement it will be to a child struggling with depression to know that thousands took time to support him in his battle!”
Participating schools will have the opportunity to send their counselors to a workshop in February specifically addressing how to recognize the signs of suicide.