Wellness Center
Curated Environments for the Mind, Body, & Spirit
The Wellness Center is one integrated center with many ways to thrive. At Innovate Academy, well-being is not a program. It’s an environment—one with rooms, gardens, tables, and sacred spaces that work together to care for the whole child.
Together, these spaces create a campus-wide Wellness Center that nurtures:
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We support scholars through counseling, guided reflection, focused learning practices, and the development of healthy emotional skills.
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Scholars are cared for through attention to nutrition, movement, and hands-on outdoor learning that supports physical well-being.
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We nurture spiritual formation through healthy disciplines and pastoral care rooted in the Christian tradition.
Our Wellness Spaces
The Community Garden
Healing Through Creation
A living classroom where hands meet soil and hearts find calm.
Our Community Garden is a place for:
Gardening, harvesting, and nature-based learning
Outdoor sensory regulation and movement breaks
Herbal education with scholar-made tinctures, teas, and simple remedies
Lessons in stewardship, patience, and gratitude
The garden teaches scholars that creation is restorative—and that learning can happen in the dirt, not just at a desk. Starting in the spring, scholars can sign up to participate in seasonal planting, harvesting sessions, and weekly garden activities.
The Table Cafe
Hospitality, Community, and Nourishment
A warm, relational hub at the heart of campus.
The Table café is where scholars and families gather before, during, and after school—sharing food, conversation, and connection. It supports wellness by:
Offering a peaceful, communal landing place
Encouraging healthy eating habits through fresh options
Hosting informal gatherings and parent meetups like Around The Table talks
Connecting to the garden’s herbs for teas, tastings, and simple demos
It’s not just a place to eat—it’s a place to belong.
The Counselor’s Suite and Prayer Room
Stillness, Reflection, and Spiritual Care
A quiet, sacred space designed for soul-rest.
The Prayer Room gives scholars a retreat from the noise of the day:
A space to journal, pray, sit in silence, or breathe
A refuge for emotional reset or spiritual reflection
Occasional guided moments led by counselors or pastors
Short-term counseling and emotional check-ins
Peer conflict mediation
Social skills and confidence-building groups
Parent partnership and guidance
Here, scholars learn that rest, quiet, and prayer are essential to their well-being.
The Movement Zone
Strength, Energy, and Regulation
Where physical wellness meets joyful activity.
Currently housed in multi-use indoor and outdoor areas, the Movement Zone promotes:
Daily recess and outdoor play on our fields, courts, or playgrounds
Stretching and rhythmic movement breaks
Physical Education instruction focused on strength, teamwork, and lifelong habits
Activities that regulate mood, reduce stress, and sharpen focus
Movement isn’t an “extra”—it’s essential to learning well.
Meet the Mentor
INNOVATE ACADEMY SPOTLIGHT
Jessica Hartzel brings twenty years of experience in education as a teacher, counselor, and tutor, partnering closely with families to support scholars’ emotional, academic, and spiritual well-being. As Innovate Academy’s Guidance Counselor, she provides thoughtful care, practical strategies, and Christ-centered support, helping scholars grow in confidence, resilience, and healthy relationships within a nurturing community.
