5 minute read
WELL CENTERED
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NEW SAFE SPACE PROVIDES MENTAL HEALTH COMFORT
By David Maxwell, Brianna Sandoval, Mars Smith, Maya VanVleet
Aaryn Keltie ‘25 spends time in the Wellness Center. They de-stress by drawing after a long day at school.
In a far-off corner of the school, the sound of a piano being played can be heard from a dimly lit room. This place has become somewhat of a safe haven for many students.
Greg McDonald, the counselor in charge of the mysterious room, sits on a cushion on the floor as he talks to a student who is struggling with immense stress. They feel comforted by McDonald’s words.
“A student can find safety here, or have a break during their busy day to reset because nowadays we’re always busy,” McDonald said.
This transformed classroom, known as the Wellness Center, provides a space for the improvement of personal mental health. It’s also a place to escape from the harshness of high school and just take a breather from everyday life.
“Students walk in with the soft lights, the music, the fish scenes going on in the background, the comfortable couches, the tea, all of which help a person relax,” McDonald said.
Students like Milo Needle ‘24 have found comfort in the Wellness Center.
“I’ve had a couple of times this school year where I’ve been struggling and I’ve gone to the room,” he said. “Mr. McDonald has been there to help. It’s been really great.”
The Wellness Center, although it has many admirers already, did not randomly appear out of the blue over the summer. Over the past few years, the Wellness Center has been on the minds of Assistant Principal, Linda Hubbard, and the former principal, Neil Anderson.
“The administration went to Fort Collins to visit a high school that has a similar Wellness Center,” Hubbard said. “It was kind of in the
Mr. McDonald assists a student with their college essay. He is always available to help students with their work in the Wellness Center.
back of our minds that it was something that we would eventually like to do here.”
The Wellness Center wasn’t actually created until the Marshall Fire impacted so many of our own. The school was approached by Impacted Education to give students affected by the fire an outlet as they learned to overcome the destruction. It couldn’t have come at a better time.
For the past few years, mental health among high school students has dramatically decreased, according to the CDC’s Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey. Social media and COVID have taken a toll on the mental health of high school students, causing a rapid increase in persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness.
“A lot of us are dealing with a lot of heavy stuff in our lives, especially our high school students,” McDonald said. “Even before COVID, there was a rise in anxiety and issues due to social media and cell phones.”
With scattered emotions, students often choose to keep their feelings trapped inside. However, it’s only a matter of time before all the feelings rush out like a waterfall.
“The Wellness Center has been a really helpful resource because it helps a lot of kids feel safe and secure,” Needle said.
Since the start of the school year, the Wellness Center has already seen great reviews across the school and large numbers of participation in the student body.
“I’ve had over 260 individual students come through from all different social groups, which has been great,” McDonald said. “That’s probably a tenth of our student body.”
What is the Wellness Center?
• The Wellness Center, a new addition to Monarch, raises confusion surrounding its purpose. A room in the works for around 4 years, motivated by vice principal Linda Hubbard. Donations from staff and students were gathered, and over the summer of 2022, the Wellness Center was finally brought to the school.
• The Wellness Center holds a lot in store for students. Whether it’s a quiet place to sit, an area to draw or to drink tea and hang out with friends, the Wellness Center has something for everyone.
• Students may come in during free periods, classes, or Access Time to relax or use the space to study. Staff welcomes students to use the
Wellness Center in times of crisis or as needed.
The rise in popularity of the Wellness Center is not surprising to Aaryn Keltie ‘25. Before the Wellness Center, they found students would go to the counseling office if they were ever struggling with any problems relating to school or home.
“It’s just so much better than the counselor’s office because you’re actually recognized and heard,” Keltie said. “If you can’t deal with something right then and there, you have a place to just sit and calm down.”
Although the counselor’s office is still an option and open to anyone, Needle believes the Wellness Center offers different things than the counseling office.
“I feel like the counseling office, although it’s a helpful resource, is not exactly set up for people in crisis,” he said. “The Wellness Center is there for people to take a break from their school day.”
The Wellness Center is not only a place where students can just sit and relax, but it is a place where people know that they are not alone in how they feel.
“I think what separates our Wellness Center from other places in the building, is we are always here,” McDonald said. “We are always accessible for whenever anybody’s feeling the need to connect with someone in a safe, non-judgmental way.”
- Assistant Principal Linda Hubbard
