HAWTHORNE, FL (352today.com) – Students at Alachua County’s Shell Elementary School will soon have a place to go to cool down when their emotions are getting the best of them.
Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) will unveil a new ‘calm room’ on Monday, Jan. 29.
“Calm rooms are designed to give students a safe space to cool down when they are experiencing anger, anxiety and other emotions during the school day,” said ACPS in a news release.
Features of the rooms include ‘low-stimulation’ décor and soothing sounds.
The district says a similar room opened at Ft. Clarke Middle School last August of 2023. There are also calm rooms at Santa Fe High School and Howard Bishop Middle School.
ACPS says the calm room at Shell Elementary is funded through a $52,000 grant from UnitedHealthCare.
In addition to outfitting the room, the district says the grant will also support its efforts to help students learn to self-regulate their emotions and better cope with stress using a system developed by Braintree Wellbeing.