Grand opening of the Oasis

New and improved extension of the Wellspace coming soon

August 29, 2023

Full view of the Oasis, located in front of the WellSpace.

LOS ALAMITOS, CA — On Sept. 5, Los Alamitos High School will have the grand opening of the new Oasis. This relaxing outdoor space is an extension of the WellSpace, in room 653. The Oasis is used by many students for homework, meditation, and practicing mindfulness. Its main purpose is to be a safe place for students to escape the pressures of high school. This additional aspect to our school utilizes nature’s calming properties with numerous trees and a soothing water feature.

A plaque in the Oasis commemorates the loss and generosity of the Sethi family. (Cora Miller)

WellSpace counselor Ms. Ledterman is the main monitor of the Oasis.

“The best thing we can do if we are trying to be mindful or practice mindfulness is to get ourselves outside to get some fresh air,” Ms. Ledterman said. “Having trees and plants are really important; having those designs brings everybody’s stress levels automatically down.”

However, the Oasis isn’t just a place to clear your head, it is also a remembrance to the Sethi family for their son, a Los Al student, who sadly passed away about 10 years ago. The family donated extensive amounts of money for the Oasis; they also support Los Al students with scholarships every year. A plaque has been placed in the area for students to always remember this benevolent family and their cherished son.

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The idea for the Oasis originated from the Los Alamitos Education Foundation (LAEF) who also contributed to the construction of the WellSpace. Before it was the Oasis, the space acted as an old playground for what used to be Los Alamitos Preschool.

Since Los Al reopened for a new school year, about 10 students have made use of it per day. So far, students have shown their appreciation by respecting and taking care of this new and improved space.

Aubrey Keller and Julia Van Vranken enjoying the soothing atmosphere. (Cora Miller)

Sophomores Delilah Baker and Alyssa Zabala sat in the Oasis to enjoy their lunch.

“I think its a really nice place to sit down and eat lunch and hang out with your friends,” Baker said.

“I think it’s a very relaxing place and it makes my soul happy,” Zabala said.

Next time you need a place to clear your mind, check out the brand new addition to Los Al, the Oasis.

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About the Contributors

Jaya Eapen, Staff Writer

Jaya Eapen is a sophomore at Los Al, and this is her first year at the Griffin Gazette. She would describe her personality as being optimistic, creative, and reliable. Jaya enjoys reading fantasy books, sewing skirts, and other small things. Her favorite subject in school is English because she enjoys reading and analyzing different novels. Her favorite artist is Taylor Swift and she enjoys listening to the album ¨folklore¨. She is in the marching band and dedicates lots of time, effort, and energy to practicing and becoming her best self. She looks forward to writing articles about the arts at Los Al. You can contact Jaya at [email protected]

Cora Miller, Staff Writer

Cora Miller is a sophomore at Los Alamitos High School. This is her first year in Journalism, but she wants to include it in her future career as a therapist. She enjoys writing about current world events and mental health. In her free time, you can find her at the beach or thrifting with her friends. One of her goals for the year is to cover many articles that impact somebody else's day. You can contact Cora at [email protected].