Our Approach to Teen Wellbeing
At Lakefield, we understand that thriving teenagers need more than great academics—they need balance, belonging, and the space to grow into themselves.
Every aspect of our school is designed to help teenagers develop healthy habits that strengthen body, mind, and spirit: getting quality rest, eating well, staying active outdoors, and building supportive relationships that help them thrive.
Our community and on-campus Health and Wellbeing Services support both boarding and day students, ensuring every teenager has consistent routines, caring relationships, and resources to help sustain those habits.
Guided by our school motto, mens sana in corpore sano—a healthy mind in a healthy body—our approach draws equally on the principles of positive education and the restorative benefits of time in nature. Together, they create a framework that strengthens happiness, vitality, and focus, developing clarity, balance, and purpose in all that they do.
By learning to unplug and be present, and by developing habits that strengthen both body and mind, students discover how to live and lead well.
A Whole-School Commitment
Supporting health and balance in every dimension.
At Lakefield, caring for students means attending to every aspect of their wellbeing. Through on-campus health services, counselling, and guidance, as well as daily routines that encourage calm focus, healthy activity, and a steady rhythm of life, we help teenagers build the patterns and practices that support growth—in body, mind, and spirit.
Health Centre and Physical Wellbeing
Our on-campus Health Centre provides professional medical care in a calm, supportive environment. A team of qualified nurses and an on-site Nurse Practitioner offer year-round care, with coordinated access to a school physician and visiting specialists for additional support.
Students also benefit from on-site physiotherapy, athletic therapy, and nutrition guidance—ensuring they stay active, healthy, and balanced across academics, athletics, and daily life. The Health Centre is a welcoming space where students can rest, recharge, or talk with a nurse when they need support.
| Health and Wellbeing Centre Contact Information |
Hours
A nurse is on-call after hours for residential staff to contact in the event of an emergency. ContactAbout the CentreOur registered nurses and visiting professionals provide year-round care in coordination with counsellors and community health providers. All LCS staff and faculty are certified in CPR and first aid every two years, and defibrillators are located throughout campus for emergency use. |
Physiotherapy and Athletic Therapy
Students have access to on-site physiotherapy and athletic therapy for injury prevention, rehabilitation, taping, and recovery.
Our program is led by Becca Watson, MScPT, Hons BKin, Dip. Sport PT, who also serves as the sideline therapist for many of our home athletic games.
| Physiotherapy Contact Information |
| Physiotherapy sessions are available every Friday afternoon at the Health Centre. For appointments, contact Meghan Hone. |
Emotional Wellbeing and Counselling
At Lakefield, emotional wellbeing is central to a thriving school community. Grounded in the principles of Positive Education and supported by the natural rhythms of physical activity and life outdoors, students and staff alike are encouraged to build healthy habits that sustain good mental health and overall balance—learning to care for themselves and others and developing a sense of balance that prepares them for life beyond The Grove.
Our counselling services, located in the Academic Block, provide guidance, perspective, and support. Working one-on-one, in small groups, or alongside advisors, faculty, and the Health Centre team, they focus on preventative wellbeing—helping students strengthen self-awareness, establish positive routines, and access additional resources when needed.
Through this integrated approach, students come to understand that caring for the mind is connected to caring for the body and spirit—and that balance grows through experience, reflection, and connection.
Mindful Technology and Balance
At Lakefield, we teach students how to be present—in their learning, in their relationships, and in the natural world around them. Our approach to technology is rooted in research and designed to help teenagers develop healthy digital habits that support focus, wellbeing, and genuine connection.
Phones and personal devices are set aside during the academic day, Chapel, House, and co-curricular times so students can fully engage with one another and the experiences around them. These intentional “no-tech” spaces—from classrooms to the Dining Hall and Chapel—create time for reflection and community.
Through these shared practices, students gain a deeper understanding of balance: when to disconnect, when to engage, and how to use technology responsibly and with purpose.
Body, Mind and Spirit
Guided by our school motto, mens sana in corpore sano—a healthy mind in a healthy body—we see wellbeing as an interconnection of physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
Daily experiences at Lakefield nurture that balance: time outdoors and at our farm, Chapel reflections, House gatherings, and meals shared together create moments of gratitude, connection, and belonging. From a morning paddle to a quiet conversation under the trees, students discover how community and the natural world sustain wellbeing.
Research at Lakefield and beyond shows that time spent in nature supports focus, vitality, and joy. These shared experiences remind students that caring for their bodies, minds, and spirits is both a practice and a privilege—and that thriving for life begins with finding balance in the everyday.
Learning to Flourish
Flourishing is something we teach, model, and celebrate at Lakefield. Each September, new students gather at the waterfront for Flourish Fiesta—an introduction to Positive Education and the habits that nurture wellbeing. Through mindfulness, gratitude, and kindness activities, they discover that learning well and living well are deeply connected.
Rooted in the science of positive psychology, these practices help students strengthen focus, perspective, and optimism—skills that support both wellbeing and academic growth. Throughout the year, these principles continue to shape daily life—in classrooms, Houses, Chapel, and outdoor adventures—reminding students that flourishing in body, mind, and spirit is something we practice together, every day.
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