01/05/2026
With most schools diving headfirst into all of the latest technological advances, one district is giving some students a weekly chance to step back for a bit.
Seaborn Elementary, in the Weathersfield Local School District recently began hosting a weekly get-together called the “Disconnect Club.” At the club, students rid themselves of electronic devices and spend an hour playing board games and socializing.
Stephanie Dota, a fifth- and sixth-grade social studies teacher at Seaborn and student council adviser, said the club was created as a way to let the students “get back to the basics of childhood.”
“We want kids to disconnect from their devices,” Dota said. “Get off their computers. Put their phones away.”
Approximately 30 students packed the library room at the club's most recent meeting. Kids from student council began setting up the games — Connect Four, Jenga Giant and various card games.
The students were organized into several groups playing different games. After a few minutes, they rotated to a new station to play another game. Competition was fierce from time to time with both cheers of victory and groans of defeat echoing throughout the library.
While the students at the get together seemed like experts at their specific activities, Dota said it took some time for the kids to learn the games.
“Even as a mom, my own kids don’t know basic games,” she said. “They didn’t know how to play Rummy, they didn’t know how to play War, and I was like ‘these are games we have to play.'”
After a tutoring session, Dota said the kids caught on quickly to the basics of the board games.
By the second get together, the student council members were leading the club.
The club has been popular since it began earlier this month. Dota said when the group was opened for sign-ups, it had space for 30 students. She said the club was completely filled within the first day of registration.
Source: Tribune Chronicle
All information provided by Wait Until 8th — https://www.facebook.com/waituntil8th — https://www.waituntil8th.org/
EDITORIAL DISCLAIMER These resources are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please do not share medical information on this platform. Contact us with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or content you see here.
