Welcome to the Wellness Center
Feeling down? Feeling stressed? Feeling frustrated? Feeling annoyed? Drop by and see us. We are great listeners and we might have a few tips to help you feel a little better, too.
-->Scroll the images to learn more about Wellness Center
Who runs the Wellness Center?
Marina’s Wellness Center is run by our school social worker, Sarah Swanger, MSW, ASW, PPSC. School social workers are masters-level mental health professionals who work at schools to address barriers to student success, and enhance social and emotional growth and academic outcomes for all students.
Ms. Swanger is also a San Francisco native, lover of dogs, and huge (HUGE!!) Warriors fan.
Project Arrive
Day on the Bay with Project Arrive mentoring program, an activity-based mentoring program for incoming 6th graders to support students’ transition into middle school.
What type of programming is available in the Wellness Center
The Wellness Center at Marina provides group programming, small group and one on one. Our goal is to meet the needs of the students.
Wellness Intern (left), CYC Therapist (top) and Booker T. Washington girls group (bottom). Examples of the types of programming provided by the Wellness Center.
Getting outside...getting outside of yourself
The Wellness Center is not limited to the walls at Marina. Programs help students get outside and rethink their perspectives on things.
Learning the ropes of middle school...while hanging from them
Project Arrive mentors test their strength and perseverance...and learn how to adapt these traits to middle school success and beyond.
What goes on in the Wellness Center?
A wide variety of events and services take place in the Wellness Center, and a few satellite spaces around the school; including clubs, therapeutic groups, and individual case management and school-based counseling and therapy provided by a range of educators and clinicians including the SSW, interns, CBO’s and outside providers.
How do students access the Wellness Center and programs?
Lots of different ways! Students are mostly referred to the Wellness Center and this happens in a variety of ways. Some students refer themselves to, or are having a hard day and a teacher or other school staff will introduce them to the Wellness Center. Often students will be referred after a request for support is made by a parent, a teacher, counselor or administrator, or from a student-centered meeting such as a Parent-Teacher Conference or SST. Sometimes even elementary school staff will refer an incoming 6th grader for support.
What Clubs take place under the umbrella of Wellness?
- Rainbow Penguins! with Mx. Yee
- Booker T Washington Girls and Boys groups: Sign up early in the year for these groups as room fills up fast! These groups take place during lunch and also include after school and weekend activities facilitated by the Booker T Washington Community Center!
- Black Student Union and Cultural Diversity Group: Also facilitated by the Booker T Washington Community Center, this group studies and celebrates African American History and other cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
- Games Club: drop in with Ms. Swanger and Co. during lunch time most days of the week for an indoor space to hang out, play games, do homework, and socialize during lunch.
What are groups and what groups exist?
- Project Arrive: An activity-based mentoring program for incoming 6th graders to support students’ transition into middle school. This group meets once a week during elective period for 10 weeks (sometimes year long, depending on logistic availability and participation) and is co-facilitated by two adult mentors (usually Wellness and Beacon staff).
- Mentor For Success: A 1:1 model mentor program where school staff and community members become mentors and take on student-mentees for a long-term relationship. The pair meets one time per week, and once monthly all mentors and mentees come together for an activity or party. Learn more here
- CBITS: CBITS is an evidence-based school intervention for relieving symptoms of traumatic stress. Many people, including youth, have experiences that are overwhelming and difficult to process and are carried with them in variety of ways. This 10-week group addresses those experiences, retrains the brain, and increases healthy coping skills.
- Girl/Boys Support Groups: Therapeutic counseling groups focused on social emotional skill building - Facilitated by Westside Community Service Center.
- Lyric Q Group: Confidential therapeutic group for LGBTQIA+ students
Who else provides services for Wellness?
- Lavender Youth Services
- Community Youth Center (CYC)
- Booker T Washington Community Center
- Westside Community Service Center
- Chinatown Children’s Development Center
- Marina Counseling Center
- Huckleberry Youth Services
- Homeless Children’s Network
This page was last updated on September 3, 2021