December 2022 Grant Recipients

Our school recently changed the students that are now housed in our school. We now have students with behavioral issues due to past traumas, and other diagnoses. We are in the process of creating a sensory room for these students. When the students are having a hard time in their general education classes and become overwhelmed, they are being removed and sent to the sensory room with the behavioral tech. There they will be allowed to calm down and discuss what upset them. We are working on teaching them to self-regulate and communicate their emotions/needs, rather than act out in class.

We are looking to add sensory items to this room to help the students deescalate. We are looking to add things like weighted blankets, light covers, different seating, calming bubble lamps, and fidget toys. We are also looking to add items like a weighted vest/lap pad that students may to classes that are particularly difficult for them to help them remain calm and in class. We want to provide these students with all the tools and resources to continue their education.

I am in the process of trying to replace some of our older instrument cases. We currently have eight violins in our inventory and 5 of them have cases that are in desperate need of replacement. We are also in great need of two new viola cases. They get used, and they wear out. This might not seem like a very exciting thing to fund, but we absolutely need these cases to continue the use of the instruments. String instruments can last 80+ years, but the cases see much more use.