Schools working to improve students’ mental health, physical activity

Courtesy photo Monte Vista AIM-XL Task Force selecting goals in the spring of 2018

MONTE VISTA— Students in the Monte Vista School District will see programming improvements designed to improve outcomes in physical activity, mental health and substance abuse reduction rates over the next few years.
A group of Monte Vista School District staff along with representation from parents, students and community members formed the District AIM/XL task force which began meeting in the spring of 2018. Led by AIM/XL facilitator Shirley Berg, the team used the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model to review health and wellness data and select research-based interventions to address these three areas in the coming years.
At the end of the second year of implementation, WISH grant goals already achieved have included hiring school liaison Rose Urbina to support family/school connections and part-time school nurse Shelby Mortenson to support additional health screenings, hosting a wellness afternoon for school staff, and applying for and receiving a Bully Prevention Education Grant (BPEG) which will be implemented beginning in the fall of 2019.
Depending on the outcome of additional grant applications the team has written, initiatives to improve physical activity and access to behavioral health services will be implemented in the coming school year as well.
The current WISH Champion team includes: Superintendent Robert Webb, Marsh Counselor Peggy Haslar, first grade teacher Kirsten Whitmer, Dr. Orlando DeHerrera, kindergarten teacher Fae Aragon-Naranjo, elementary physical education teacher Vickie Welch, school nurse Brianna Villagomez, Public Health Nurse Emily Brown, middle school physical education teacher John Naranjo, MVHS counselor Lara Gordon, Nancy Molina (Rio Grande Prevention Partners), BPEG coach Devon Davey.