By Lynn SHER

A ribbon cutting ceremony for Glenoaks Elementary and its newly created “wellness room” took place on March 29. The event held particular significance because while some middle and high schools in the Glendale Unified School District (GUSD) have wellness rooms, Glenoaks is the first elementary school to have one.

Wellness rooms have become increasing prevalent in educational institutions across the nation. These spaces are designed to provide a safe space for students where they can relax, read, nap, meditate and have access to wellness resources. Most have licensed therapists available at all times.

Principal Christine Aroyan made general introductions before introducing Nayiri Nahabedian, the Glendale Unified School District Board of Education president. Nahabedian emphasized how concerned GUSD is about the well-being and safety of its students and how it can help them get the most from their time in school.

Dr. Vivian Ekchian, superintendent, GUSD, spoke next, giving a heartfelt and inspirational speech that was very much directed toward the students. She encouraged them to use the wellness room as a place to gather, to focus on their collective strengths and come together as a community.

“You are truly our problem solvers and I believe there is no single problem you cannot solve,” Dr. Ekchian said. She thanked the board of education for prioritizing health and wellness and expressed immense gratitude to the California Credit Union, emphasizing the significance of the relationship built with the credit union over the years. The California Credit Union donated $10,000 toward the wellness room.

Marco Lundgren, representative for State Senator Anthony Portantino, and Christopher Khachadour, representative for Assembly member Laura Friedman, then offered remarks.

Lundgren expressed how education and mental health concerns were “near and dear” to Portantino’s heart and commended the GUSD and Glenoaks Elementary for implementing a wellness room at the school.

Khachadour offered his congratulations to the GUSD, thanking them for “caring about our students” and read a statement from Laura Friedman,

“On behalf of the California State Assembly … I commend your ongoing efforts to address mental health in our community and your dedication to ensure all students have access to such facilities,” the statement, in part, read.

Principal Aroyan then thanked everyone on stage for making this “truly personal dream” of hers into a reality.

“If our basic needs are not met we cannot learn,” she said. “If students don’t feel supported, loved and cared for academic achievement is difficult.”

She expressed the importance of understanding the mental health needs for students at Glenoaks and how essential it is for educators to support their students properly. Students Amelia Heidecker and Saulbi Nazarian then shared their thoughts and feelings about the wellness room with speeches they prepared and wrote in less than 24 hours.

Amelia began by saying how grateful she and her classmates were to have the wellness room, that being stressed isn’t healthy and they are so lucky to have a place to go to decompress.

Saulbi concurred. “We all need a safe space,” she said. “Why not have one in school?”

She also expressed her hope that their school might have a positive influence on other elementary schools in Los Angeles inspiring them to build wellness rooms of their own. Guests then relocated to just outside the Wellness Room where the ribbon cutting took place. After the ribbon cutting they filed in as soothing music quietly played in the background.

The room was divided up into different sections. Tables were spaced throughout, each with different themes – some had puzzles and games like Jinga, another held art supplies. The most popular, though, was a table where kids could play with something called kinetic sand. Kinetic sand is a substance that feels like a like mixture of clay and sand and students loved digging their hands into it. Toward the back was an inviting reading area in the shape of a circle, made of small soft gray couches. On nearby shelves were books written for children on various self-care subjects. Posters on the wall encouraged children to get in touch with their feelings while simultaneously helping them determine what they are feeling. Other sections of the room included a teepee and a beanbag chair where students could meditate or nap.

But perhaps the most exciting feature of the wellness room is the weekly visits expected by therapy dog Maya, a super sweet Belgian Tervuren. Additionally, licensed therapist Syeda Rab will be available on a daily basis.

The morning was full of hope and celebration in which the older generation bestowed on the younger tools for life, education and wellness.