Supporting Student Wellness, Inside and Out
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
“In an effort to give our students the support and care they need to be successful in school and life, we are committed to addressing the needs of the whole child,” said Superintendent Shelly Viramontez. “Our teachers incorporate social-emotional learning and regulation into daily instruction, provide calm corners in classrooms, and work with counselors and staff to support our students experiencing a challenge or needing help managing their big feelings.”
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re highlighting how we prioritize student well-being every day of the year..
“Our partnerships with local organizations help connect our students to vital resources—medical care, counseling, emergency housing, food programs, and more,” said Veronica Gutierrez, Supervisor of School Linked Services. District administrators, nurses, and Community Liaisons collaborate closely with families to access support from our health and wellness partners.
Expanding Wellness Center Access
The Wellness Center at Monroe Middle School—launched in 2021 in partnership with the Santa Clara County Office of Education—has become a successful model for student support. Since then, the District has been building on that success, expanding its support through partnerships with the Seneca Family of Agencies and a grant obtained to fund Wellness Coaches.
This year, Sherman Oaks opened a Wellness Center under the leadership of School Counselor Yesenia Marquez. “I saw how much our students carry—stress, pressure, and sometimes silence,” she said. “I wanted to create a space where they feel safe, accepted, and heard—a space that says, ‘You matter, and your well-being matters.’”
Our model is now expanding to Blackford, with services provided by CUSD Counselor Leah Adams, a Wellness Coach, and San Jose State University interns. “While all classrooms have Calm Kits, some students need extra time or adult support to reset,” Adams said. “We help them regulate emotions and return to class ready to learn.”
Started in 1978 by two Adaptive PE teachers, the Special Games has expanded to welcome thousands of students from across the Bay Area. The students participate in obstacle courses, frisbee throws, bean bag tosses, 100-yard dashes, and more at West Valley Community College. 
Sigala noted that federal funding enables schools to provide reading specialists, instructional aides, and small-group instruction that free the classroom teacher to provide more individualized attention and enrich lessons to meet diverse learning needs. “Teachers are the core of instruction, but these additional staff make a huge difference for our students,” she said.
Meals now come in cardboard trays with compostable utensils, and condiments are served from bulk dispensers instead of single-use packets. Castlemont students Greta and Ashley (pictured above) say they prefer the new dispensers. 
To reduce food waste, students also can place uneaten fruit and unopened milk in sharing bins for others to enjoy. Recycling bins are placed next to trash cans to support sorting.
