Every day students are engaged in a large room, completing a variety of puzzles. These students are putting puzzle pieces together with other peers. It is a place of serenity – no one talking on their phone, no arguments. Just a group of students sharing a sacred space. You can leave unfinished puzzles and when you return, it will still be where you left it.
The Voice of The Ville spoke with Jennifer Pierin, the creator of the puzzle club, to learn about her reason for creating the club.
Voice of the Ville: How would you explain your connection with puzzles?
Pierin: I’ve always loved doing puzzles, and in the last five years or so, I discovered that they were not only challenging for my brain, but they helped me slow down and create a sense of calm in my life.
Voice of the Ville: What made you want to create a puzzle club for students?
Pierin: I’ve had puzzles going on in my classroom for several years because I wanted students to enjoy the benefits of puzzling that have helped me. My best friend from high school, Ann Marie Dumouchelle, an avid puzzler who creates puzzle content on Instagram (@puzzled_garden), began donating puzzles to my classroom. She has sourced and donated hundreds of puzzles from some of the coolest companies on the market, several of whom have shown love for our Detroit puzzlers by donating to us through her advocacy. The puzzles in my room were very popular, and thanks to my friend, I always had a stack of appealing puzzles for students to take home and keep.
At the beginning of this school year, I asked our principal, Mr. Montgomery, if I could move the puzzles to an unused room across the hall from my classroom, so I could form a club. He and Assistant Principal Procter supported me, granting access to the room and their blessing for the club. Hence, Inner Peace Puzzle Club at the Ville was born.
Voice of the Ville: What’s your goal for students who join your puzzle club?
Pierin: Inner Peace Puzzle Club at The Ville is a space for students to calm their minds, work together or alone, and enjoy the many cognitive and mental health benefits of puzzling, including stress reduction and mood enhancement. Our name “Inner Peace Puzzling Club” highlights the mental health aspect of puzzling.
Voice of the Ville: How do you think the puzzle club impacts students who join?
Pierin: Puzzle Club is open every day during lunch, giving students refuge from the lunch area which can be chaotic. During our first year, I’ve watched friendships bloom while students are working together over a puzzle and students new to puzzling enjoying the satisfaction of starting a puzzle, working on it over several days, and tapping in that last, delicious piece. A calm, fun community has formed, where students work together independently or in groups and appreciate each other's work.
Voice of the Ville; What do you enjoy most about having a puzzle club for students?
Pierin: Lunch hour in the Puzzle Club is my favorite part of the day. It’s a time for all of us to emotionally regulate, listen to music, and relax into a good puzzle.