Emotional Safe Zone

School:: Aubrey Rogers High
Subject:: Other
Teacher:: Milagros Lee
: Seward, Chatelier, Gonzalez
Students Impacted:: 1196
Grade:: 9-12
Date:: August 6, 2023

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

Carol Windfeldt - $120.00

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 1200

This grant was a life saver, literally. Aubrey Rogers High, a new school.....the School Counseling Department was able to set up a Calming Room and to have tools and techniques not only in our calming space but also in our vestibule and individual offices. Students came to our area distressed and in crisis from either teacher referrals or on their own. Our team was able to help them feel safe, help them refocus and develop strategies they could take back to class and get their academics charged up. Students that transferred to us from all over the county, different cities throughout Florida and other states and countries, benefited from having tools and supports in place to assist in a time where triggers and/or stressors were changing their mindset and thought process. These tools enabled the counselors to learn more about the situation, helped the student become more relaxed and focused, opened up lines of communication which assisted in building interactions for the entire school year and years to come until the student's graduate. It was a dream come true!! To have this calming space and the ability to provide the tools is not something just any school can claim. I just can't say enough, thank you, thank you!!!

Classwallet Order Receipt

Original Grant Overview

Goal

The goal in our Guidance Department is to help students throughout the our school, who are anxious, stressed or overwhelmed. We are here to help them reset and refocus from the situation at hand and to find a peaceful moment before moving forward. We find that many children today face mental health emergencies during the school day and the school counselor is a crucial, pivotal person which helps reorganize student's thoughts and provide direction and a safe environment.

What will be done with my students

Students come to the Guidance Office to meet with their school counselor multiple times during the school year. When an emotional crisis situation arises, the school counselor is in many instances the number one person with whom a student feels safe to share. The school counselor interacts with the student to help them refocus and/or try to find a possible solution to what is causing their anxiety, stress or feelings of being overwhelmed. Towards this goal, a quiet space will be designated in the department or counselor's office where the student will be provided a variety of tools and gadgets purchased by the funds of this grant. The intent of these items will be to help provide hands on or visual distractors to help students relax, open up to talking and sharing with their counselor. We sit and listen to the child share their feelings and we discuss possible solutions. Our goal is to help the student go back to class as quickly as possible, re-energized them to continue with their education and learning. Parents/guardians are contacted to bring them onboard with what is occurring at school and how they may assist at home and seek additional assistance as needed.

Benefits to my students

Aubrey Rogers is a new school, with students coming from different states, countries, public, private and charter schools. There will be unique stressors caused by this blending of student populations. The counseling staff will be making multiple efforts to meet and get to know their caseload of students. In that interval of time, students may encounter a crisis, and seek to come to meet with their counselor. Having a collection of anxiety/stress busting tools, will help the student feel more relaxed and be more apt to sharing with the counselor. These simple distractors will enable the counselor to learn more about the situation as the student becomes more relaxed. Better lines of communication are built and interactions with the student(s) increases making a safe zone accessible.

Budget Narrative

The sensory tools will be used to de-escalate students in crisis mode which will help our team to better serve the student and provide a calming and safe environment.

Items

#	Item	Cost
1	72 Pcs Rainbow Sensory Strips Anxiety Sensory Stickers Breathing Stickers Calm Stickers Tactile Rough Textured Adhesives for Adults Teens Desk Classroom Office (Classic)	$25.00
2	KINGYAO 96 Pack Bundle Sensory Fidget Toys Set-Liquid Motion Timer/Grape Ball/Mochi Squishy/Stretchy String/Flippy Chain/Easter Egg/Marble Mesh/Squeeze Bean/Cube for Autistic Kids ADHD Anti-stress Toy	$65.00
3	2 Executive Mini-Sandbox - Beach Break	$30.00
	Total:	$120.00

Please share this page to help in fulfilling this grant.