After over a year in a primarily virtual learning environment, the toll the pandemic has caused on student’s mental health is becoming apparent. 

So what does our school/district have in store to help ease students back into a more normal school setting, while prioritizing mental health? 

A proposal has been made to hire someone full-time to staff each wellness center in the district, including our very own Zen Den! While the votes haven’t been finalized yet, we are hopeful that this proposal will be implemented. The Zen Den is a safe place for students to go when they are feeling overwhelmed or just need a break. Having someone staff it full time would be incredibly beneficial for the well-being of students.

Next year, you can look forward to Bring Change to Mind (a club on campus that focuses on destigmatizing mental health) hosting mental health and stress-relieving events in the Zen Den. In the past, Bring Change to Mind has hosted yoga, therapy dogs, and meditations. These events will encourage healthy conversations about mental health on campus.

All staff will also go through training with Capturing Kids Hearts. Capturing Kids’ Hearts goal is to help staff learn how to grow positive relationships with students and overall improve school culture. 

While we don’t know exactly what the next school year will bring, we’re hopeful the mental health conversation will keep growing!