The Health Interns program will return to Poly this spring after a five-year hiatus. Late Poly Health Teacher Patti Tycenski founded the Health Interns program in 1997 as a peer leadership initiative for 5th and 6th graders. The “health interns” were a select group of seniors who met once a week during a dedicated class block to plan their sessions. When meeting with the younger students, they discussed topics ranging from mental health to their experiences in middle school.
“The Health Interns program was truly one of my favorite parts of middle school,” recalls Senior Nico James, who was in 5th grade when the program was still active. “We all thought the Health Interns were so cool, and it was a safe space where we could ask them any questions about growing up.”
The program ended in 2020 due to COVID-19 and logistical challenges, but this year it is coming back. In an assembly on February 11th, Student Government President Reese Roaman ’25 announced its return. (Roaman is also the News Editor of the Polygon and the writer of this article).
“Since Health Interns ended in 2020, my entire grade has wanted to bring it back. It was truly the most impactful aspect of our middle school years,” wrote Roaman and Student Government Vice President Sadie Schoenberger ’25 in an initial pitch to student government about the project (Schoenberger is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Polygon.). “After Ms. Ty passed away in the fall, we knew that working to revive the program would not only strengthen our community but also carry on her legacy. I never felt more connected to high schoolers than I did as a middle schooler in this program, and I know Ms. Ty always wanted to bring it back.”
Roaman proposed the idea to Director of Student Life Jared Winston, the Head of Middle School Daniel Doughty, the Head of Upper School Sarah Bates, and Health Teacher Phoebe Aberlin. They all agreed that the time was right to reinstate the program.
Winston is excited for the program to return. “Health Interns will meet with Ms. Aberlin-Ruiz either during clubs or after school to plan activities with the 5th and 6th Grade students. The hope is to build on inter-division programming like Club Captains and Peer Mentors to create meaningful bonds between the middle and upper school divisions,” he said.
The Health Interns are going to meet with the 5th graders on Wednesday, May 14, and the 6th graders on Tuesday, May 27. With the 5th graders, the Health Interns are going to review the structure of a heart, and the 6th graders are going to discuss social media usage.
“I am so excited,” said Senior Health Intern Ava Vitali. “I always wanted to be a health intern when I was in middle school, and I can’t wait for our first meeting.”
