Spartans PAUSE Student Wellness

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
Thank you, Laura Norris![]()
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
mental health awareness week![]()
mental health awareness week

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
April Spartans PAUSE Highlights![]()
grounding exercise
grounding exercise![]()
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
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 . . .
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PLAY: Move. Take a walk. Play a game.
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EAT: Nourish yourself. Have a snack.
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RELAX: Meditate. Listen to music. Rest.
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CONNECT: Talk to someone you trust.
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HELP: Volunteer or help someone else.
Connect online
Connect online![]()
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
Practice Wellness With Sparty![]()
PAUSE and Take Time For Yourself This School Year
PAUSE and Take Time For Yourself This School Year![]()
Grocery bags of positivity
Grocery bags of positivity![]()
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
Check out the Spartans PAUSE YouTube Channel![]()
Check out the Spartans PAUSE YouTube Channel
View PAUSE videos created over the years
How to certify your dog as a therapy pet
How to certify your dog as a therapy pet![]()
How to certify your dog as a therapy pet
Join the PAWs team!
Join the PAWs team!![]()
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?
Interested in a parent gathering?![]()
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
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.
Goals of Spartans PAUSE
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?
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
Virtual calming room![]()
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.

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.
Spartans PAUSE is provided by
Spartans PAUSE is provided by ![]()
- Spartans PAUSE Chair Laura Norris and the Spartans PAUSE Team
- Ms. Camarillo (Student Ambassador Advisor) and the MVHS Student Ambassadors
- MVHS PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Association)
- Others who care about student wellness
“Self-care means giving yourself permission to PAUSE.”
—Cecilia Tran