At San Diego Unified’s Canyon Hills High School, the wellness center isn’t a standalone resource; it’s woven into the fabric of how the school operates.
Knowing you have a place on campus where you are seen, heard, respected, and can show up as your authentic self is essential,” said Araceli Lamb, wellness center coordinator. “We are student-centered. Students are our priority.”
The wellness center serves as the hub for identifying and connecting students to the right support. Through a universal referral form and the school’s CARE Team, staff use the center to assess student needs and coordinate services—whether that’s on-site mental health counseling, community resources like Pronto transportation passes, or simply offering a quiet space where students can practice breathing exercises and decompress on the couch. By centralizing these connections in one place, the wellness center ensures that no student falls through the cracks.
Our school thrives because our departments don’t work separately,” said Lamb. “Admin, Counseling, Wellness, and Providers collaborate consistently, and while it takes effort, the outcomes speak for themselves.”
That collaboration extends directly into the wellness center’s programming and daily operations. The Military and Family Life Counselor, wellness coordinator, and SAY San Diego’s alcohol and drug prevention team co-facilitate student clubs, campus wellness events, and family engagement activities, all located within or coordinated through the wellness center. A JED Foundation student committee meets regularly at the center to focus on school safety and reducing self-harm. Seniors access programming on topics they request before graduation, and ninth graders participate in monthly meetings with social-emotional learning lessons, both offered through the wellness center as part of its grade-level support mode
For Canyon Hills student Jaden Salinas, the wellness center has been a place of personal growth and connection. Salinas said the people at the wellness center have helped the most, fostering better relationships and deeper self-understanding.
“A wellness girls' club meets on Wednesdays with 10 to 25 students, and Teens Make Health Happen draws 5 to 10 students every Friday. Other popular features include small group conversations, along with other tools such as kinetic sand and card games.
Being part of the wellness group was a standout experience. Salinas learned what it means to be mentally healthy, the different parts of taking care of yourself, and showing up for yourself. While the activities were meaningful, it was sharing openly with peers that made the biggest impact.
“Sharing with peers was the best. It felt refreshing to hear from others and not just what I think,” Salinas said. “We were able to share in a safe space.”
Salinas also emphasized why having the center available matters: it gives students a space to be understood, not judged, and having staff who are calm, emotionally available, and consistently supportive makes all the difference.
“I recommend it to other students because it’s a safe space. It never feels like chaos, it’s peaceful,” Salinas said. “When you try to speak to yourself, your state of life, your mental well-being, it’s crucial that it feels calm and welcoming to whoever you are.”
The center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and consistently serves 20 to 30 students during lunch.
Student wellness is one of San Diego Unified’s goals for student achievement. Canyon Hills is one of 12 wellness centers districtwide.
For more information, contact [email protected] or call 619-725-5501.
Article written by a communications team member on behalf of the San Diego Unified School District Strategic Communications and Information Department.