Spartans PAUSE Student Wellness Initiative—supporting student wellness by providing a variety of health-promoting activities to all students on a monthly basis

Thank you, Laura Norris

The Spartans PAUSE team wishes Laura Norris a fond farewell, as her child graduates. Laura, who shepherded the program from a pick-me-up before and during exams into a monthly wellness benefit for the MVHS community, leaves the program in the hands of Ambassador Advisor Mrs. Camarillo; the student Ambassadors; and parents who will be carrying on the PAUSE program.

mental health awareness week

Groups of people (and at least one dog) walk around the Spartan field track for the Out of the Darkness Walk on Friday, March 17, 2023.

The Bay Area storm and local power outages did not diminish the annual week devoted to mental well being. Such activities as art therapy, creating awareness bracelets, coloring a mural and a student mental health panel took place throughout the week of March 13-17, culminating in the Out of the Darkness Walk around the Spartan field track on Friday.

April Spartans PAUSE Highlights

grounding exercise

When you feel overwhelmed, identify and name ...

5 things you see

4 things you feel

3 things you hear

2 things you smell

1 thing you taste

PAUSE Themes

The motto for Spartans PAUSE is, "PAUSE and TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF."

The monthly PAUSE events try to support one of the five PAUSE themes: "PLAY," "EAT," "RELAX," "CONNECT" and "HELP."

When days are challenging, consider pausing to try a few of these strategies. PAUSE and TAKE TIME TO . . .

PLAY: Move. Take a walk. Play a game.
EAT: Nourish yourself. Have a snack.
RELAX: Meditate. Listen to music. Rest.
CONNECT: Talk to someone you trust.
HELP: Volunteer or help someone else.

Connect online

If you would like to receive periodic updates and have not yet joined, be sure to visit ParentSquare.com and join the Spartans PAUSE Wellness Program community group.

Practice Wellness With Sparty

PAUSE and Take Time For Yourself This School Year

Grocery bags of positivity

Students decorated 100 bags during the October PAUSE. The bags were delivered to Hope’s Corner in Mountain View, with the aim of brightening the lives of those who receive food there.

Check out the Spartans PAUSE YouTube Channel

View PAUSE videos created over the years

How to certify your dog as a therapy pet

Join the PAWs team!

The MVHS “PAWs" certified therapy dogs and their owners help spread joy during the school year.

Questions? Email SpartansPause@gmail.com.

Interested in a parent gathering?

Spartans PAUSE is considering holding gatherings to give parents an opportunity to connect, create stress balls, sew sleep masks or assemble mini succulents to give away to students at a future PAUSE wellness day. Interested in hosting or coordinating such an event?

Email SpartansPause@gmail.com.

How You Can Help

Volunteers are needed and welcome to support the program throughout the year. If you are interested in volunteering on or off campus, please email SpartansPause@gmail.com.

De-stressing

Goals of Spartans PAUSE

Empower youth to be advocates for their health
Help eliminate the stigma of seeking help
Offer a community that cares and supports
Increase connections on campus
Provide students with self-care tips and wellness tools

Why Spartans PAUSE?

Through Spartans PAUSE, the hope is that students will feel more connected and supported for their overall well-being. Spartans PAUSE aims to provide opportunities for students to develop life skills that will serve them beyond the school years, like self-care, balancing work and play, creating healthy relationships and strengthening their sense of connection, belonging and community involvement.

Virtual calming room

Designed by MVHS counselors, the Virtual Calming Room is here to help you with different strategies and tools for managing your emotions.

Enter the Virtual Calming Room.

In the foreground, a tower of stones reaches up from a beach. In the background is an expanse of green water under a deep blue sky.

What is Spartans PAUSE?

Mountain View High's Spartans PAUSE program aims to support student wellness by providing a variety of self-care activities to all students on a monthly basis.

Funded by the PTSA, Spartans PAUSE is an ongoing collaboration among the PTSA, school administration, staff, student ambassadors, advisors and community partners. It helps to create a positive and welcoming culture on campus that promotes student wellness, so students feel connected and supported.

During monthly PAUSE days, students are greeted in the morning with healthy snacks, and a few activities are offered during lunch. The PAUSE team tries to select inclusive activities in which all students can participate.

Mental Health Referral Form

Questions?

Spartans PAUSE Student Wellness