Major funding going towards more sensory rooms in NLPS schools

Northern Lights Public Schools has announced putting aside more funding for sensory rooms in the coming years.

Putting sensory rooms in schools has already begun in the division, with North Star Elementary School in Cold Lake and Vera M. Welsh Elementary School in Lac La Biche being the first to have them built this year.

NLPs has set aside $800,000 to build these rooms in their schools, which often include self-regulating toys and tools, calming lights, and other features to help students “self-regulate.”

“A sensory room provides students with a calm and comforting space to help them self-regulate,” said Grace MacLellan, the division’s Director of Inclusive Education and Community Supports, in a press release.

“This is a universal support designed to be used proactively to support students’ needs (like stress and anxiety) and not reactively.”

Sensory rooms are being developed at two more NLPS schools in 2022-202): Aurora Middle School in Lac La Biche and Bonnyville Centralized High School in Bonnyville. Other schools in the division are scheduled to have their sensory rooms created in 2023-2024 or 2024-2025.

“Our sensory room at Vera M. Welsh has always been a place to support students in learning self-regulation skills and strategies. With the addition of our new equipment, student learning and opportunities have been greatly expanded,” said Cheryl Kuraitis, Assistant Principal of Vera M. Welsh Elementary School, in the release.

In the press release, NLPS said this plan of building sensory rooms is part of their Three-Year Education Plan.