Wellness Center News
Posted:
January 2022 Newsletter
Announcements
Students can be seen at the Wellness Center by Ms. Shoshana our Nurse Practitioner, or Ms. Vero, our School Based Counselor. To schedule an appointment, please call (206) 326-2141.
Upcoming Groups
Kindness Alliance Meeting – a social justice group.
Meets after school every Wednesday. Groups led by Ms. Vero and Ms. Shoshanna.
To sign-up, please visit: “After School Programs” on the Aki Kurose website.
Healthy Relationships
Relationships can be full of fun, romance, excitement, intense feelings, and occasional heartache, too. Whether you’re single or in a relationship, remember that it’s good to be choosy about whom you get close to. The keys to a healthy relationship are respect, honesty, trust, equality, and good communication.
Think about the qualities you value in a friendship and see how they match up with the ingredients of a healthy relationship. If you’re already part of a pair, make sure the relationship you’re in brings out the best in both of you. If you’re wondering whether your relationship is healthy, click here: loveisrespect – healthy relationships.
Mindfulness Activity: Relaxing to Music
Mindfulness (being completely present in the moment) is a powerful tool that teens can use to manage many challenges in life. Research indicates that when teens consistently practice mindfulness, it lowers rates of anxiety and depression, and leads to better sleep, stronger relationships and increased self-awareness.
Try this Mindfulness Activity:
Click on the link below and listen to the song. Instead of focusing on the lyrics, pay attention to the music itself. What instruments do you hear? Is the song loud or soft? How does the music make you feel?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUUqVD-x6cc
Covid-19 News
We are at record numbers of Covid-19 cases. On January 3rd the Food and Drug Administration cleared the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 booster dose for children ages 12 to 15. It still is important to wear a mask, socially distance, avoid large groups, and wash your hands. The good news is the Covid-19 vaccine is here. The vaccine is now available for students 12 years old and up at the Aki Kurose Wellness Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (206) 326-2141. To learn more about the Covid-19 vaccines, click here: Seattle King County Covid-19 Vaccines
Wellness Center Staff
- Shoshana Mirel – Nurse Practitioner
- Vero Sage van Leuven – Mental Health Counselor
- Lisa McDonald – Program Coordinator
- Marcelene Dorian-Richardson – Health Educator
Previous Newsletters
December 2021 Newsletter
Announcements
Students can be seen at the Wellness Center by Ms. Shoshana our Nurse Practitioner, or Ms. Vero, our School Based Counselor. To schedule an appointment, please call (206) 326-2141.
Upcoming Groups
Kindness Alliance Meeting – a social justice group.
Meets after school every Wednesday. Groups led by Ms. Vero and Ms. Shoshanna.
To sign-up, please visit: “After School Programs” on the Aki Kurose website.
3 Ways to Practice Gratitude
Gratitude doesn’t just feel good. Making a habit of gratitude can also be good for us. Like other positive emotions, feeling grateful on a regular basis can have a big effect on our lives. Brain research shows that positive emotions are good for our bodies, minds, and brains.
Everyone can benefit from making an effort to practice gratitude every day.
These 3 steps can help you start feeling more grateful, and appreciative of the good things in your life:
- Notice good things and appreciate them.
- Savor, absorb, and really pay attention to those good things.
- Express your gratitude to yourself, write it down, or thank someone.
Mindfulness Activity: Take a Technology Detox
The world is pretty awesome, and sometimes that is easy to forget.
One of the most beneficial mindfulness activities you can take part in is a technology detox. Whether this is every Saturday, a few hours or just 20 minutes a day, it really will make a huge difference to your mental health and wellbeing. In fact, the constant use of technology is a major contributor to stress in teens, which is why it’s so important to take a break. We guarantee it will help you feel instantly calmer, have more control of your thoughts and allow you to enjoy living in the moment with family and friends.
Covid-19 News
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is now available for children 5 to 11 years old. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) expanded COVID-19 vaccine eligibility following recommendations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup, which reviewed data that found the vaccine to be safe and more than 90% effective in preventing COVID-19 in younger children.
Click here to locate Covid-19 vaccines in your area: https://vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov/
November 2021 Newsletter
Announcements
Students can be seen at the Wellness Center by Ms. Shoshana our Nurse Practitioner, or Ms. Vero, our School Based Counselor. To schedule an appointment, please call (206) 326-2141.
Upcoming Groups
Kindness Alliance Meeting – a social justice group that supports the LGBTQ+ community.
Meets after school every Wednesday. To sign-up, please visit: “After School Programs” on the Aki Kurose website.
Wear a mask, wash your hands and avoid close contact with others.
Is it Covid-19 or Flu?
It’s that time of year when we experience more respiratory illnesses like colds, flu and now Covid-19. It’s important to get a flu shot. Flu shots are free at the Wellness Center.
Covid-19 and the flu have similar symptoms such as fever, cough, fatigue, sore throat, muscle pain or body aches. However, loss of taste or smell is unique to Covid-19.
The Food and Drug Administration is expected to authorize the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine in children 5-11 early next week. The best ways to prevent Covid-19 are to get vaccinated if you qualify, wear a mask, wash your hands and avoid close contact with others.
Mindfulness Activity: Why Is This Practice Important?
The world is pretty awesome, and sometimes that is easy to forget.
- Create a “Jar of Awesome,” either physical or virtual — a mason jar or something like it would be perfect, or an email to yourself. You can leave your jar plain or decorate it like crazy. It may also help to keep a small scratch pad and pen next to it.
- Each day, write something down that you think is awesome — about your day, your life, or the world in general — and put it into the jar or on the virtual list.
- The minimum is one item each day, but you can add as much awesomeness to the jar as you like. 4. When you are having a hard day, read some of the notes in your “Jar of Awesome!”
Managing Stress
Many people are experiencing anxiety about Covid-19, being back at school and/or other stressors. It’s understandable if you are feeling worried, bored or frustrated. You are not alone. We all need ways to relax: deep breathing, stretching, meditating or engaging in activities you enjoy like exercising, gaming, reading or other hobbies. The “Stop, Breathe, Think” app is a mindfulness and meditation app that does just as the title states – it encourages you to stop for a moment, breathe and think. Download for free on Apple Play or the App Store.
October 2021 Newsletter
Announcements
Students can be seen at the Wellness Center by Ms. Shoshana our Nurse Practitioner, or Ms. Vero, our School Based Counselor. To schedule an appointment, please call (206) 326-2141.
Upcoming Groups
Kindness Alliance Social Justice Group starts up on Wednesdays from 2:30-3:30.
To sign-up, please visit: “After School Programs” on the Aki Kurose website.
Reminder
The following vaccines are recommended for Preteens and Teens. Students can check their immunization status at the Aki Kurose Wellness Center.
- Meningococcal
- Tdap
- HPV
- Flu
Mindfulness Activity: Set-Up Mantras
There’s a lot to be said about willing positive things into your life. A mantra is a motivating chant, like “I think I can, I think can” that you repeat over and over to yourself that can help bring confidence and joy into your life. Mantras can be read, chanted or even sung.
Try this:
- Step 1: Find a mantra you like (“I am smart,” “I can do this,” “I am grateful for everything I have.”
- Step 2: Get comfortable. Choose a place to sit down. Cross your legs and close your eyes.
- Step 3: Focus on your breathing so you can be aware of when you inhale and exhale.
- Step 4: Speak your mantra out loud several times. Feel how the words vibrate on your lips. Feel how the words can resonate through your entire body.
Mantras can be a great way to center yourself. Find new phrases that appeal to you as you go through internal and external struggles. Mantras are a constant reminder to yourself that you can achieve anything that you put your mind to.
COVID-19 News
Covid-19 vaccines continue to be highly effective in reducing the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death, even against the highly transmissible Delta variant. It remains important to get vaccinated if you qualify, continue to wear masks, socially distance, and wash your hands frequently to keep everyone healthy. For more information about the Covid-19 vaccine and other important information, click here:
September 2021 Newsletter
Welcome back to school! We are looking forward to seeing you at the Aki Kurose Wellness Center for the following services:
Announcements
Students can be seen at the Wellness Center by Ms. Shoshana our Nurse Practitioner, or Ms. Vero, our School Based Counselor. To schedule an appointment, please call (206) 326-2141.
Fall Sports – Girls’ Soccer and Ultimate Frisbee
The forms for fall sports are located on the Aki Kurose website – Athletics page. If you would like to schedule a sports physical at the Wellness Center, please call (206) 326-2141
- Primary Care
Sports physicals, vaccines, check-ups (physical exams), colds, flu, infections, acne, eczema, allergies, asthma, health education and more. - Mental Health
Feeling down, stress, depression, relationship problems, self-esteem, family conflict, peer pressure. - Health Education
Growth and development, nutrition, healthy relationships, sexual health and education, tobacco and drug use prevention.
Mindfulness Activity: Tense and Release Muscle Relaxation
Mindfulness has become increasingly popular in recent years and there’s a good reason why. Research suggests that mindfulness is useful for well-being, physical health and mental health. Sometimes, all you need is five minutes of self-care to feel better.
Try this: Starting at your feet, gently squeeze the muscles in the feet by tightening them, then slowly releasing. Next squeeze the large muscles in the calves for 5 seconds, then gently release. Work your way up the body, squeeze the thigh muscles for 5 seconds, then gently release. Continue moving up the body for more relaxation. Take a few deep breaths. How do you feel?
COVID-19 News
The Covid-19 vaccination is one of the most important tools to keep you healthy and help end the pandemic. Several vaccines are authorized for emergency use or fully approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Pfizer vaccine has been approved by the FDA for ages 16 and up, and has been approved for emergency use in children ages 12-15.
It remains important to get vaccinated if you qualify, continue to wear masks, socially distance, and wash your hands frequently to keep everyone healthy. For more information about the Covid-19 vaccine and other important information, click here: https://www.doh.wa.gov/Covid19/Vaccine
Wellness Center Staff
- Shoshana Mirel – Nurse Practitioner
- Vero Sage van Leuven – Mental Health Counselor
- Lisa McDonald – Program Coordinator
- Marcelene Dorian-Richardson – Health Educator