Wellness
About
arrow
Welcome
Who We Are
At a Glance
History
Belonging
Faculty & Staff Directory
Security
Directions
Career Opportunities
News & Stories
arrow
Newsletter Archives
Alumni Magazine
Board of Trustees
Admission
arrow
Explore the LJCDS Experience
Meet Our Community
How to Apply
arrow
Early Childhood Center
Lower School
Middle School
Upper School
Tuition and Financial Assistance
Student Ambassador Board Members
Alumni Stories
Informational Events and Tours
International Applicants
Meet the Team
Academics
arrow
Early Childhood Center
arrow
A Distinct Approach
Curriculum
Environment
Sample Schedule
Lower School
arrow
Kindergarten
arrow
A Distinct Approach
Curriculum
Grades 1-4
arrow
A Distinct Approach
Curriculum
Extended Day Option
Middle School
arrow
A Distinct Approach
Curriculum
Upper School
arrow
Curriculum
Advanced Studies
Experiential Education
College Counseling
arrow
3-Year College Matriculation
College Rep Resources
College Trips
FAQs
Service-Learning
Library
Learning Resource Center
Citizenship
arrow
Programs & Annual Events
Speaker Series
Design and Innovation
arrow
Curriculum
Torrey Explorers Fund
Arts
arrow
Performing Arts
Visual Arts
Arts Hall of Fame
arrow
Nominations
Athletics
arrow
Meet the Coaches
Teams
Weekly Home Games
History of Excellence
arrow
Torreys at the Next Level
Hall of Fame
arrow
Inductees
Nominations
Athletics Handbook
Shop Torrey
arrow
Middle School PE Uniforms
Community
arrow
Wellness
arrow
FAQs
Clubs & Organizations
Advisory and Peer Leader
After-School Programs
Lunch
Transportation
All School Calendar
Parent Engagement
arrow
Volunteer Interest Form
Grandparents
Family Handbook
Giving
arrow
Make a Gift
Ways to Give
arrow
Planned Giving
Funding Priorities
arrow
The Hub for Human Impact
Country Day Fund
Financial Assistance
Blue Bash
arrow
Sponsorships
Name a Theater Seat
Your Gifts in Action
Recognition and Giving Societies
Centennial Campaign
Portal
Alumni
arrow
Events
arrow
Alumni Weekend
Reunions
Regional Events
Update Your Info
Class Notes
Alumni Giving
Alumni Awards
Alumni Business Directory
Summer
Calendar
News
Shop Torrey
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing to use this website, you consent to our use of these cookies.
Wellness
The Wellness program at La Jolla Country Day School is committed to improving the overall healthy emotional development and well-being of students, educators and staff. Through education, programming and partnership with trained professionals, the program promotes and normalizes conversations about mental health and wellness.
Goals/Priorities
Integrating the partnership between the student, faculty and family
Fostering community and prioritizing mental health for faculty/staff so that they are best equipped to support students and families
Creating a Pre-K–12 health program that promotes resiliency and healthy coping skills to allow children of all ages to learn to take care of their mind, body and spirit.
LJCDS recognizes the importance of mental health and wellness and firmly believes in having a school-community-family partnership.
Program Highlights
List of 7 items.
All School
Brief, solution-focused counseling sessions are available to all students
Wellness Insights for Families, a monthly informational meeting hosted by the school counselors, addresses topics and areas of interest for parents and families.
Partnership and consultation with external resources confirm best practices and offer relevant information regarding the Pre-K–12 population.
Professional development and classroom integration of wellness practices are encouraged in each division.
The school nurse is trained to assess the severity of various injuries and if physical symptoms are psychosomatic.
Early Childhood Center (ECC)
LJCDS educators work closely with the school counselor to determine how to support students who struggle with social-emotional challenges. The school counselor is also a resource to ECC families.
Lower School
Educators work closely with the school counselor to determine how to support students who have social-emotional challenges.
The school counselor periodically leads discussions on character development, friendship and social issues, self-esteem, conflict resolution, and other topics that might be of interest to students.
Middle School
Students connect and bond with the members of their homerooms and the middle school community during advisory and community dialogue time.
Students participate in programming that addresses age-appropriate, social-emotional topics, which include:
Grades 5–6: Study skills and time management, healthy friendships, bullying behaviors, feelings management, puberty, conflict resolution, goal-setting, assertiveness, building self-confidence, social media and healthy habits.
Grades 7–8: Coping strategies for stressful situations, dealing with peer pressure, healthy relationships, body image, alcohol/drugs, suicide awareness and prevention, LGBTQ+ issues, expressing feelings and thoughts in healthy ways, and social media.
Upper School
Health and Wellness course in Grade 9 focuses on mental health, suicide prevention, nutrition/body image, sexual health, substance use education and identity.
The advisory program includes counselor-directed programming that addresses various topics about mental wellness and positive psychology through small group discussions, guest speakers and assemblies.
In partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), faculty and students undergo suicide prevention programming.
Students participate in the Sandy Hook Promise programming, including Say Something and Signs of Suicide.
Student clubs include MHE (Mental Health Education)
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
When students are well, their achievement increases. Individuals cannot be fully well if they don’t feel seen, heard and accepted for who they are; therefore, diversity, equity, inclusion is an essential component of the Wellness program. In addition to the Upper School dignity course, the Middle School’s advisory program addresses DEI work through the dignity lens. The Wellness team collaborates with the director of diversity, equity, and culture on educating and supporting students, families and staff.
Parent/Guardian Education
Parents and guardians are invited to monthly educational talks featuring parenting and mental health experts from around the nation. Topics have included positive discipline, healthy relationships in the teen years, transitioning to college, cyber safety, healthy sleep, and how to build resilience and thrive.
LJCDS is a member of
WeCare San Diego
, a nonprofit consortium of independent schools that provides education events that offer practical, real-world solutions to parents’ and guardians’ problems.
Wellness News
Helping Students Manage Their Online Worlds
4/9/2025
LJCDS leaders are featured in the National Association of Independent Schools’ spring magazine.
The Vital Skill of De-escalation
5/1/2024
UC San Diego and Rady Children’s Hospital doctor shares tips to avoid making a situation worse with anger.
Embracing Tech: Leveraging Innovation in Wellness
3/22/2024
Innovative technology opens the door to new wellness interventions.
Drawing The Line with Engaging in Children’s Conflicting Relationships
1/26/2024
Empowering children to navigate friendships and breakups gracefully.
Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude
11/8/2023
Fostering family happiness and resilience through gratitude.
Forgiveness
6/6/2023
The director of wellness offers tools and techniques for cultivating forgiveness
Partnerships
Rady Children's Partnership
LJCDS is in proud partnership with Rady Children’s Hospital to create and sustain a Pre-K–12 wellness framework that promotes the emotional well-being of the entire school community. A staff psychiatrist at Rady Children’s works directly with the LJCDS wellness staff. The goal is to scale the model and curriculum to share with other schools in the greater San Diego community and across the country.
Meet the Team
The primary objective is to develop a caring and supportive relationship with students as they navigate through the ups and downs of adolescence and work towards achieving their goals.
List of 4 members.
Michelle
Hirschy
Director of Wellness
(858) 453-3440 x 166
Ashley
Marlow
Counselor, Early Childhood–Grade 5
(858) 453-3440 x317
Kiara
Grant
Ed.D.
Counselor, Grades 6-9
(858) 453-3440 x 476
Jessica
Hernandez
MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Nurse
(858) 453-3440 x137
La Jolla Country Day School
9490 Genesee Avenue
La Jolla, CA 92037
858-453-3440
Country Day Connection Newsletter
Accredited by: