Quick look: OCDE and Rady Children’s Health partnered to open one of the county’s first elementary WellSpaces at Arovista Elementary School — inviting community members and educators to explore the newly-renovated classroom at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Dec. 18.
At Arovista Elementary School, students who step into the new WellSpace on campus are invited to pause.
A colorful feelings box near the entrance prompts them to select a blue, green, yellow or red popsicle stick as a way to signal how they’re feeling that day and help the onsite counselor tailor support to their needs.
Created through a partnership between the Orange County Department of Education and Rady Children’s Health, it is the first elementary school WellSpace in the county developed with the health organization, expanding a model that has already taken root across the Brea Olinda Unified School District.
More than 70 WellSpaces currently operate across the county. These restorative environments offer students a place to pause from the demands of the school day, practice emotional regulation and access mental health support so they can return to class focused and ready to learn.
Designed to serve Arovista students from transitional kindergarten through sixth grade, the space was developed by the Orange County Department of Education’s WellEd team in collaboration with Rady Children’s Health and donors from the Swenson Family Foundation to meet the needs of learners at varying developmental stages.
Community members and educators were invited to explore the new space during a ribbon-cutting ceremony held Dec. 18. Inside the WellSpace, students can curl up in reading nooks with bean bag chairs, play with stuffed animals or participate in mindfulness exercises. The space will also be used for parent trainings, hands-on skills development and student clubs centered on well-being.
Brea Olinda Superintendent Brinda Leon said the addition of an elementary-level WellSpace strengthens a continuum of care for students as they move through the school system. With WellSpaces already established at junior high and high school campuses in the community, expanding access to younger students sets a foundation for both mental and academic success from the earliest grades.
“Thank you for taking the time to support an initiative that speaks directly to who we are as a community,” said Arovista Principal Erik Barrientos. “Only when we address everything together can we really truly shine.”
For more information on OCDE’s mental health initiatives, visit the department’s WellSpace Project webpage.
