New at Hazen: The Student Wellness Center

We’re thrilled to introduce a new resource at Hazen Union: the Student Wellness Center—a dedicated space where students can pause, process, and reset. Whether they’re feeling overwhelmed, unfocused, or just need a moment to regroup, the Wellness Center offers a calm, supportive environment to help them return to class feeling more grounded and ready to engage.

Here’s how it works: Students simply take a SWC pass from their teacher and head to the Wellness Center, where they have up to 15 minutes to check in with themselves, breathe, and use a variety of calming tools and resources. It’s a simple, student-centered system designed to foster emotional balance and self-care. The space is always staffed with an adult facilitator who is there to provide additional support and oversee the space.

The Student Wellness Center is part of our larger commitment to supporting students in a holistic way—emotionally, socially, and academically. Coordinated by Community School Coordinator Vaiva Velzis and thoughtfully co-facilitated by a small team of community mentors, the space is held with care, intention, and a deep belief in each student’s capacity for self-regulation and growth. As part of this broader initiative, Hazen is currently hosting a Teen Mental Health First Aid training for students who want to deepen their understanding of mental wellness, care for themselves, and show up as informed, compassionate supports for their peers.

This initiative is made possible through grant funding from the Northeast Vermont Prevention Consortium, and is one of many efforts underway as part of Hazen’s Community School strategy. Together, we’re working to create a more inclusive, responsive, and connected school culture, where students are supported not just in learning, but in becoming more fully themselves.