The Colton High School Wellness Club will host the school’s first virtual Wellness Fair in March 2021 as part of an ongoing effort to promote the mental and physical well-being of the community’s youth. Last year’s highly successful in-person Wellness Fair was the first event of its kind in the Colton Joint Unified School District.
Wellness Club members and advisors hope to build on the momentum gained last year. Due to the virtual nature of this fair (necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic), they expect that they can captivate an even larger audience and make the 2021 Wellness Fair a districtwide, and possibly a countywide, event.
The fair, which takes place over three days -- on March 10, 11, and 12, 2021 -- will address a wide array of health topics and will include expert speakers, workshops, and resources. Student and parent workshops will take place from 5:00PM to 7:00PM. Area organizations that are able to lend their expertise to help with this event are encouraged to register now as presenters or participants by contacting Assistant Principal Jorge Alvarez at Colton High School at Jorge_Alvarez@cjusd.net.
The interactive workshops will include a painting class, stress and relaxation exercises, a creative writing class, healthy cooking, and parenting classes for adults.
The Club’s president, Colton High School Senior Mariela Castaneda said, “There are a lot of students experiencing trauma at home and it makes it very difficult for them to concentrate at school and do well, especially during this pandemic. Our goal with this fair is to provide students some relief by bringing workshops that can help students relax and learn techniques to manage their stress and anxiety.”
Mr. Alvarez was moved to help students struggling with mental health issues and formed the Wellness Club with the help of Elizabeth Fregoso, the school’s Career Tech Specialist, and 2020 CHS graduate Ernest Mateo Cisneros.
"Mental health support is even more critically needed this year," Alvarez said. “The pandemic has come to exacerbate an already difficult situation for kids, and now more than ever our students need this type of event at every school."
The Wellness Fair is just part of a school-wide effort to help students take charge of their own well-being. The Wellness Club also was instrumental in getting a Wellness Center on campus.
The center, developed in collaboration with the CJUSD Mental Health Department, is now headed by CHS's Wellness Center Coordinator Evelyn Villa. During the pandemic, the center aims to provide a virtual space for students to find peace, quiet and support, especially during stressful times.
“The chaos and uncertainty of this past year has hurt so many and most definitely has had a negative impact on our mental health,” said Superintendent Frank Miranda, Ed.D. “During this incredibly stressful time, I am so proud to see our students’ courage as they step up to help others. Their leadership, resilience, creativity, flexibility, empathy and compassion for others is nothing short of inspirational. I am very much looking forward to the upcoming virtual Wellness Fair, which is a perfect example of how #CJUSDCares.”
The Wellness Fair is supported by Colton High School Principal Joda Murphy, Wellness Club Co-Advisors Elizabeth Fregoso and Jorge Alvarez, Superintendent Dr. Frank Miranda, and the Bezos Scholars Program.
Colton High School Wellness Club officers include President Mariela Castaneda, Vice President Kimberly Castellanos, Treasurer Hunter Kelly and Secretary Natalie Ramirez.
Keep up with the news about the Wellness Fair on Twitter and Facebook: @chswellnessclub, on Instagram: @chs_wellnessclub, #ColtonWellnessFair or by visiting the event website: https://sites.google.com/cjusd.net/wellnessfair2021.
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