Hamilton Heights High School Counseling Department expands digital wellness initiative with peer-led mentorship program

Submitted by Hamilton Heights School Corporation

Hamilton Heights School Corporation is strengthening its commitment to student well-being with a renewed focus on Digital Wellness for the 2025-2026 school year. As part of this initiative, seven Hamilton Heights High School Senior Mentors visited fourth-grade classrooms last to lead interactive lessons on digital safety and responsible online citizenship.

The peer-led program is designed to empower younger students with practical strategies for navigating the digital world, while giving seniors an opportunity to model positive online behavior and leadership. During the classroom visits, mentors guided students through key topics including:

• Private vs. Personal Information: Understanding what is safe to share online.
• Digital Footprints: Recognizing the long-term impact of online actions and posts.
• Healthy Digital Balance: Learning to create boundaries between digital engagement and real-world relationships, activities, and responsibilities.

Photo provided by Hamilton Heights School Corporation

“This mentorship model is powerful because it connects our oldest and youngest Huskies in meaningful, age-appropriate conversations,” said Jessica Cantlon, Hamilton Heights School K-12 Reaching New Heights Coordinator and Director of School Counseling. “When students hear these messages from peers they admire, it reinforces the importance of making safe, thoughtful choices online.”

Photo provided by Hamilton Heights School Corporation

The Digital Wellness initiative is one of several efforts supporting the district’s broader “Bell to Bell” transition, which emphasizes healthy habits, responsible technology use, and student well‑being throughout the school day. Additional programming includes the district’s upcoming Digital Safety Presentation on May 18, open to families and community members.

By equipping students with the tools to navigate an increasingly digital world, Hamilton Heights continues to foster a culture of accountability, safety, and leadership across grade levels.