News

After 2-year hiatus due to pandemic, annual Wellness Fair returns to high school


June 19, 2022

By Caila Barreiros
Staff Writer

At the Wellness Fair on May 26, students from all grades came together on the LHS practice field to further their knowledge and participate in activities relating to health and self-care. This annual event, which is organized by the Student Services Department, has been taking place since 2018, though there was a two-year break due to the pandemic.

Guidance counselor Mrs. Stacy said the Wellness Fair raised awareness about the importance of wellness.

“That includes mental wellness, physical wellness, emotional wellness and social wellness, and this fair brings some resources to help,” Stacy said.

She said students have given her positive feedback on the event, which included 16 booths run by LHS clubs as well as local organizations.

Sophomore Philip Torres, said he enjoyed the fair because it was educational.

“I learned how to help our planet [and] the environment around us, how to create a nutritious meal, how to exercise more and have a good exercise schedule,” Torres said. 

He said the Wellness Fair helped students enhance their understanding of mental health, physical health and the world.

“It gives ideas, tricks, life hacks and information on the subjects that will help change our future and ourselves,” Torres said.

He said his favorite booth was the one run by Environmental Club, which included a spinning wheel that contained tips on how to keep the Earth clean or help the environment. The Environmental Club also handed out stickers and seed paper to students who visited the booth.

I learned how to help our planet [and] the environment around us, how to create a nutritous meal, how to excersise more and have a good exercise schedule.”

Junior Cecelia Valdez, who is a member of the Environmental Club, helped run the booth.

“The Wellness Fair was relaxing and exciting. It was nice to see all the booths and learn about our own wellness and how to take care of our health,” Valdez said.

She said she enjoyed playing Mental Health Jeopardy at the booth run by CBH Care, which provides community-based mental and behavioral health services in Northern New Jersey.

“A few students and I learned about different kinds of anxiety when we stopped by. It was very educational, and I appreciated it,” Valdez said. “I would love to see the mental health booth again because I loved the purpose of teaching people about mental health.”

Stacy said she was pleased with the outcome of the Wellness Fair. 

“I love seeing students and staff participate with our vendors, learning new information and overall enjoying themselves,” said Stacy.

  • PHOTO BY CAROLYNE MOONEY Freshmen Izabel Graziani and Elona Megally greet students at the Animal Welfare Club booth.
  • PHOTO BY MICHELLE GOZDEK Junior Cecelia Valdez enjoys her time at the Wellness Fair.
  • PHOTO BY MICHELLE GOZDEK Senior Ricky Rainey picks up some free gifts from the Environmental Club booth run by seniors Stephanie Cerrito and Sarah Gabriel. The club handed out seed paper and stickers to visiting students.
  • PHOTO BY MICHELLE GOZDEK Junior Debora Araujo plays Mental Health Jeopardy at the CBH Care booth.
  • PHOTO BY MICHELLE GOZDEK Junior Josh Lado gets information about eating healthy from the ShopRite booth.
  • PHOTO BY NIKKI ANTONESCO Mrs Deforge and Senior Maryam Yabroudi promote their raffle and share the benefits of reading with students at the Book Club booth.
  • PHOTO BY MICHELLE GOZDEK Sophomore Nashly Taveras tests out a stationary bike at the Break the Mold fitness booth.
  • PHOTO BY MICHELLE GOZDEK Junior Emilia Calabrese shows sophomore Brendan Cokeley how to sign the Stigma Against Mental Health petition at the Bring Change to Mind Committee booth.
  • PHOTO BY MICHELLE GOZDEK Guidance counselor Ms. Leidemer leads students in writing notes to their classmates at the Unified Club booth.
  • PHOTO BY MICHELLE GOZDEK Students write notes for their peers at the Unified Club booth.
  • PHOTO BY CAROLYNE MOONEY Freshman Madelyn Turano uses the stationary bike at the Break the Mold booth.
bookmark icon