Amos Alonzo Stagg High School has opened a new Wellness Room designed to give students a calming, supportive space to practice self-care, develop coping skills and take purposeful breaks during the school day.
The room, repurposed from a classroom built as part of the school’s recent addition, was created with support from a $4,927 grant from the District 230 Foundation. The funding allowed the school to furnish and decorate the space and purchase supplies for enrichment activities that promote emotional well-being.
Jocelyn Wysocki, a Stagg social worker who helped lead the project, said the Wellness Room was designed to strengthen students’ emotional awareness and help them return to class more focused.
“The goal of this space is to enhance students’ ability to identify when they need a break and give them the tools to self-regulate,” Wysocki said. “By providing a proactive space for wellness, we are helping students refocus and return to class more engaged and ready to learn.”
Students may visit the room during Intervention time, which is second period on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. They may also drop in during lunch or study hall. Inside, they can journal, practice mindfulness, set goals, color or take part in rotating activities meant to reduce stress.
Wysocki said the Wellness Room reflects the school’s broader mission of nurturing both academic and social-emotional growth.
“Schools play a critical role in supporting children and families,” she said. “While the expectation is that schools provide an academic education, they also provide opportunities for social-emotional education and life skills development, including community building, peer and adult relationships, and establishing routines.”
She said the Wellness Room offers students a safe and supportive environment where they can practice coping skills, manage their emotions and build peer support networks.
“Stagg’s Wellness Room supports stress management, provides emotional support, promotes coping skill development, supports peer networks and facilitates mental health education for all students,” Wysocki said. “By incorporating a Wellness Room, we can create a supportive environment that equips students with the tools and strategies they need to navigate challenges during their academic day and beyond.”
The space will also host monthly Social-Emotional Learning Enrichment sessions featuring activities such as mindfulness jars, rock painting, make-your-own puzzles, worry stones and friendship bracelets.
Wysocki said the project has been a team effort by members of the school’s guidance staff.
“We are so grateful to have the support of the D230 Foundation in bringing this project to life,” she said. “A team of Stagg guidance staff, including social workers, counselors and our special programs interventionist, has been managing the project and meets weekly to continue improving this initiative. We are excited to see how the Wellness Room grows and develops as more students benefit from this support.”