SWEAR Committee
Student Wellness Education And Resources
Our Mission
Our mission is to empower and connect youth advocates for student wellness by supporting mental health campaigns at every SDUSD high school, incorporating mental health education into curriculum, and increasing access to resources. We aim to bridge the gap between schools in an effort to create a more standardized system of addressing mental health issues districtwide.
SWEAR Initiatives
SWEAR is a student-driven district committee founded by San Diego Unified School District high school seniors, Catherine Delgado and Hannah Griswold. In SWEAR’s inaugural year, we had 33 members representing over 16 high schools in the district. Read below to learn more about our past work to prioritize students' mental health and wellness.
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10 Days of Winter Wellness
From December 9th to 18th 2020, students tuned in to the SWEAR instagram to learn and practice a new wellness strategy. Any student from kindergarten to 12th grade may participate for fun, or to be named one of the districts’ Winter Wellness Champions. We encourage schools, ASBs, teachers, and parents to spread awareness of this challenge and encourage involvement for all students. To be named a Winter Wellness Champion, the student must do each new challenge every day, in addition to the old challenges. We want our students to know that they are not alone, and we hope that you enjoy this Winter Wellness event!
Mental Health Days Resolution
The SWEAR Committee helped Student Board Member Zachary Patterson with passing and implementing his resolution recognizing student health and wellbeing on January 26th, 2021. The resolution changes the SDUSD absence code to allow excused absences for mental health reasons and formally supports Senate Bill 14. S.B.14Â changes the state absence code to allow excused absences for mental health and requires that at least 50% of school employees be trained in mental health first aid. This act is monumental in creating a positive learning environment for students and eliminating the stigma surrounding mental health.
March for Mental Health
On May 26th, 2022, SWEAR representatives and mental health-passionate SDUSD students came together at the SDUSD central office in an effort to empower student voices and gather a community around mental health awareness and advocacy. Student and adult speakers articulated the role of mental health in their lives, followed by a purposeful march around the building and some wellness-based enrichment activities. Participants called on the district to 1) communicate existing mental health resources, 2) represent student advocacy groups at the district level, and 3) implement calendarized mental health minimum days into the school schedule.
What I Wish My Parents Knew: Burnout
On May 25, 2022, SWEAR representatives joined SDUSD parents and students in a public dialogue regarding academic burnout. Participants heard anecdotes from student panelists and gained insight into the burden of burnout through anonymous student survey results. Dr. Desiree Shapiro, an Associate Clinical Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at University California, San Diego (UCSD)/Rady Children's Hospital, shared effective strategies for approaching and coping with burnout.
Contact Us
Interested in getting involved with the SWEAR Committee and discovering more about our work? Contact us today and join our fight for SDUSD students' wellness and mental health!
Advisors:
Kate Edra (kedra@sandi.net)
Jessica Luckey (jluckey2@sandi.net)
Jessie Ornelas (jornelasmares@sandi.net)
