As students begin to ease back into their school routines, West Ranch ASB coordinated Wellness Week to kick off the new semester. This annual tradition promoted positivity, unity and mental wellness among the student body with themed events throughout the week. These planned activities aimed to create an environment that fostered connection and self-care.
For students, wellness is a crucial component in proper functioning throughout the day, and it is important to take a mental wellness break to maximize your efforts. West Ranch Social Worker and Wellness Center Coordinator Mr. Grattan shared the impact of having a wellness week: “I think it’s a great opportunity that West Ranch was able to hold one. It’s a good time to reset and prepare for the upcoming semester.”
Due to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the school was closed on Monday, January 20th. On Tuesday, ASB hosted renowned motivational speaker Tei Street. Street has been a motivational speaker for over 20 years, traveling to schools in 49 states to emphasize the importance of wellness and personal growth in high school. Her message focused on the significance of confidence and cultivating a positive mindset. Street accentuated that each student is unique, leaving students with an inspirational message to carry on the rest of the spring semester: “You are already more than enough, not because of what you do, but because of who you are.”
Wednesday’s theme celebrated the spirit of unity and collaboration with a Team USA-inspired color day. As a way to embody courage and community, the theme was recognized as Wellness Wins. Students and staff were encouraged to wear red, white and blue attire for the day. The theme encouraged school-wide participation and emphasized the power of teamwork through the unity of colors.
Thursday was centered on mental health awareness and supporting others, emphasized through a rock-painting activity during brunch and lunch. Set up in front of the ASB office, students were invited to decorate rocks with motivational messages, affirmations and creative designs. This activity served as a way to remind students of their resilience and share a message in honor of mental wellness.
On Friday, ASB organized a rally to finish off the week with a strong ending. Due to unforeseen circumstances of the Hughes fire in Castaic, the rally was postponed. ASB Rally Commission head Chloe Busnawi explained, “The fire was unexpected, but our focus was on making sure everyone was safe at first. After that, we adjusted our plans quickly to make sure our activities could still happen.” Although ASB faced a sudden obstacle, members worked quickly to reschedule the rally, set for Friday, Feb. 7.
Through thoughtful planning and execution, ASB created an unforgettable week for students to decompress at the start of the semester. Cats, if you are ever feeling stressed or overwhelmed, make sure to stop by the Wellness Center in room 421.
