SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS: (from left to right) Vicky Wen, Heliana Vargas, and Jaqueline Orcutt are the school social workers who meet with students to manage their mental health.

By Ezra Caber

As many students are now aware, the Wellness Center has undergone a transformation, relocating to a new location, adjacent to the agriculture building. Despite the move, the core mission of the Wellness Center remains the same: to provide unwavering socio-emotional support to Granada Hills Charter (GHC) students.

“Our services are still the same. We are open to all students and support their emotional, mental, and/or social struggles” school social worker Vicky Wen said. “Our most known service is one-on-one meetings with students.”

Students are encouraged to visit the Wellness Center whenever the need arises, with the understanding that teacher discretion ensures their well-being both emotionally and academically take precedence.

Despite the change in location, the Wellness Center has successfully retained its soothing ambiance. The hushed space with dim lighting and soft music continues to offer solace to stressed and anxious students.

In the lounge area, they provide colored markers and paper, and various fidgets for students who choose to take a break on the comfortable chairs and beanbags. In the personal offices of the social workers, they also have different fidget toys for one-on-one meetings.

These tools to calm students during a stressful school day serve as a meaningful change of pace in contrast to GHC’s busy hallways. Students often have a lot on their minds including academics, extra-curricular activities, jobs, family, relationships, and more. Having a space on campus where there are people who will listen can be very beneficial.

“I love the Wellness Center. It’s so calming there and helps me focus. The social workers there are so nice,” junior Nathaniel Rodriguez said.
As the school year progresses, academics become more stressful, so the Wellness Center is the place to be.

“My friends and I really love to go there because it helps us to feel less stressed,” junior Katelyn Garcia said.

The office is open anytime to either talk to one of the school social workers or take a short break.

“There’s not a particular reason for relocation,” Wen said. “There were some shifts around the school, and this space was built to keep the integrity of the Wellness Center.”

Although the day-to-day operations of the office remain consistent, certain events orchestrated by the Wellness Center such as ones held by the DECA Mental Health Committee are currently pending.

“Event planning varies for the Wellness Center,” school social worker Heliana Vargas said. “We try to see the need of the new school year in order to plan events.”

In light of the move from the A building to the back of the school, the dedicated social workers at the Wellness Center are determined to shine a spotlight on their new location and continue their support for our students.

“We’re slowly working on being more visible to students as of the new location,” Vargas said.
This transition marks an exciting new chapter for the Wellness Center as it reaffirms its commitment to nurturing the well-being of GHC students.

With a fresh location and dedication, the Wellness Center staff eagerly anticipates the positive impact they have on the lives of students seeking support and guidance.