Pouring Into the Next Generation: A Morning With Kelly Mill Middle School
There are some opportunities that remind you exactly why community work matters.
On September 18, 2026, I had the privilege of joining the sixth-grade students, teachers, administrators, and staff at Kelly Mill Middle School for their first sixth-grade Town Hall of the school year.
I was invited to open the Town Hall and spend approximately 20 minutes talking with students about one simple but important question:
How do you have a great start to sixth grade?
As a registered nurse, holistic wellness educator, community advocate, and founder of Precious Holistic Touch Foundation, I knew I didn’t simply want to talk to students about making good grades.
I wanted to talk about taking care of the whole person.
Because, as we say at Precious Holistic Touch:
It’s All Connected.™
A Healthy Student Is More Than a Report Card
Middle school is a major transition.
Students are learning to navigate increased independence, multiple teachers, changing bodies, new friendships, academic expectations, and greater responsibility, all while discovering more about who they are.
During our time together, we discussed how their physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and environmental well-being can affect their experience at school.
We talked about practical things that sixth graders can begin doing right now: getting adequate rest, eating and hydrating appropriately, practicing good hygiene, staying physically active, organizing their backpacks and assignments, using planners and reminders, seeking tutoring before they begin falling behind, and communicating with teachers when they need support.
One message I especially wanted them to remember was:
Ask for help early.
There is strength in recognizing when you need support and knowing who the trusted adults are around you.
“Pause. Think. Before I Repeat.”
One of the most meaningful parts of our conversation focused on emotional wellness, kindness, gossip, and bullying.
I challenged the students to consider how quickly information can change as it travels from one person to another, and how easily our words can affect someone when we don’t know the complete story behind what we’re seeing.
We practiced a phrase I hope they carry far beyond that morning:
PAUSE. THINK. BEFORE I REPEAT.
Before repeating something about another person, consider:
Is it true?
Is it helpful?
Could it hurt someone?
Sometimes emotional intelligence looks like recognizing that something simply doesn’t need to go any further.
We also talked about something I believe adults need reminders of sometimes, too:
You never know everything another person is carrying.
The behavior, clothing, mood, academic performance, or situation we see may only represent the tip of the iceberg.
There may be grief.
There may be financial hardship.
There may be family changes.
There may be loneliness.
There may be struggles at home that no one at school knows about.
That is why kindness matters.
The Message Continued After I Left
One of the most encouraging moments actually came after the Town Hall.
I received a message from the school coordinator thanking me for the presentation and sharing something that meant so much to me:
Teachers were already reinforcing the message with students when he returned to the hallway.
That stayed with me.
Because impact isn’t simply having an opportunity to stand in front of a microphone.
Impact is giving someone something useful enough to carry with them after you’ve put the microphone down.
If “Pause. Think. Before I Repeat.” becomes language that helps even one student reconsider participating in gossip, bullying, or a hurtful conversation, then those few minutes mattered.
And Then Came Another Beautiful Surprise…
A few days later, I learned that Kelly Mill Middle School had included my visit in its school newsletter.
Seeing the experience captured alongside the words “Healthy Habits. Brighter Futures.” was such a meaningful surprise.
The school shared that the message encouraged students to consider how their choices and words affect both their own well-being and the people around them, while empowering them to become leaders in creating a healthier and kinder community.
That is exactly the kind of community we hope to help cultivate through Precious Holistic Touch Foundation, Inc.
Not simply young people who achieve, but young people who are healthy, compassionate, self-aware, equipped to seek help, willing to help others, and prepared to lead.
Thank You, Kelly Mill Middle School
To the principal, administration, teachers, staff, and everyone at Kelly Mill Middle School who welcomed me: thank you.
Thank you for trusting me with a few minutes of your students’ morning.
Thank you for creating opportunities for community leaders and professionals to pour into young people.
Thank you to the teachers who continued the conversation after the Town Hall was over.
And most importantly, thank you to the sixth-grade students who participated, laughed with me, answered questions, listened, and allowed me to challenge them.
My hope for every one of you is that this sixth-grade year becomes one filled with growth, discovery, healthy choices, meaningful friendships, and plenty of opportunities to become the leaders you were created to be.
Take care of your body.
Protect your mind.
Ask for help early.
Be mindful of your environment.
Care about the people around you.
And when something reaches your ears that could hurt another person…
Pause. Think. Before I Repeat.
Because our physical health matters.
Our mental health matters.
Our emotional health matters.
Our environments matter.
Our words matter.
And It’s All Connected.™
With gratitude,
Precious Dear, MSN, RN
Founder & President
Precious Holistic Touch Foundation, Inc.
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