Wellness Center Announcements – May 2023

Students can be seen at the Wellness Center by Ms. Shoshana, our Nurse Practitioner, or Ms. Vero, our Mental Health Counselor. To schedule an appointment, call 206-326-2141.

Upcoming Groups

Kindness Alliance Social Justice Group will be on Wednesdays from 2:30-3:55 starting in March. To sign-up, please visit “After School Programs” on the Aki Kurose website. Groups led by Ms. Shoshana, Ms. Vero, and Ms. Marcelene.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.  Since 1990, the U.S. government has designated May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, celebrating the achievements and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in the United States.   Communities celebrate the achievements and contributions of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans with community festivals, government-sponsored activities, and educational activities for students

Community events:

• Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration An annual festival featuring cultural performances, food and art from different Asian countries, occurring on May 6 at the Seattle Center.
• Visit Wing Luke Museum – The Wing Luke Museum is an art and history museum in Seattle, Washington, United States, which focuses on the culture, art and history of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders

To learn more about this observance, please visit:  Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2023

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental illness. During May, the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) joins the national movement to raise awareness about mental health. Mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily functioning.  Mental Health Awareness Month is an opportunity to let everyone know that mental illnesses can affect people of any age, race, religion, or income. They are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character or poor upbringing and cannot be overcome through willpower. However, they are treatable. Each year the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for policies that support people with mental illness and their families. Together, we can realize our shared vision of a nation where anyone affected by mental illness can get the proper support and quality of care to live healthy, fulfilling lives. Help spread the word through awareness, support and advocacy activities. Learn more about National Alliance on Mental Illness – National Mental Awareness Month.

Aki Kurose Wellness Center

Did you know that Aki Kurose Middle School has a Wellness Center, convenient for your child’s medical care? The Wellness Center is open during the school year and available to all students. It provides students with health care and mental health counseling, regardless of a student’s insurance or ability to pay.

School-based health centers play a big part in the health, academic success, and graduation rates of students. These clinics send an important message to students that getting care is normal and healthy. And by bringing the services to where the students are, it allows sick children to get better so they can focus on learning.

Students in schools with these centers can be seen for standard preventive care — immunizations, asthma management, acne and eczema, women’s health care, treatment of common illnesses, sports physicals, and routine medical concerns such as headaches and cramps—in addition to mental health services.

The availability and convenience of the Wellness Center allows students to be diagnosed and treated quickly. If a student were to visit the Wellness Center with a stomachache, for example, and the medical provider determined that the stomachache is a symptom of anxiety, the student could be referred to meet with the counselor.

Students can get great care at the Wellness Center. To access services, parents/guardian(s) need to complete a registration packet. Have your child stop by the Wellness Center to get a registration packet or register online. Access the Kurose Wellness Center and register for services

Please call 206-326-2141 if you have any questions or to schedule an appointment for your child.

Wellness Center Staff

• Shoshana Mirel – Nurse Practitioner
• Vero Sage van Leuven– Mental Health Counselor 
• Lisa McDonald – Program Coordinator 
• Marcelene Dorian-Richardson – Health Educator