Schools at all levels in the Lehigh Valley are making progress in prioritizing the mental health of their students with accessible and practical coping mechanisms on campus.
The Wilson Regional School District on Thursday unveiled new sensory hallways in four schools to provide students with an opportunity to reduce stress and increase focus in the classroom, according to a release from the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.
As part of a partnership between Wilson Area Partners in Education Foundation and the Pennsylvania Magellan Behavioral Health Act, the district installed these walkways that employ guided movements for students to follow, indicated by markings on the ground and walls . When students follow paths and complete movements, they improve gross motor skills, expend extra energy, and reduce restlessness and stress in the classroom.
The walkway will be installed at three Wilson Area Elementary Schools in late 2023, and the Wilson Area Middle School has a hallway equipped as a sensory hallway, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held Thursday.
“Children in Wilson Ward are making great use of the sensory hallways,” Morgan Coates, guidance counselor at Wilson Ward Elementary School, said in the release. “They enjoy using it on the way to class, and teachers use it as a movement break for all students. We also teach things like deep breathing, yoga poses, balance, and how to count. I am very grateful to be able to use this as a tool for my students.”
Students 10 years older than elementary school students also benefit from similar resources, which Northampton Community College is currently implementing at multiple campuses, according to a release from the school. In early February, the community college opened Zen Zones on its Bethlehem, Pocono and Fowler Family Southside Center campuses, safe spaces where the NCC community can focus on optimal health and wellness.
The low-sensory space is equipped with resources for guided breathing, mindfulness practices, and stress-coping strategies, reflecting the university’s commitment to a supportive educational environment.
The responsibility of schools to provide such an environment for their students is not a new trend, but it is still a growing trend. Just one year ago, Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township opened a student wellness center to centralize the school’s mental health resources. This resource has become a must-have for schools across the country since the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine focused attention on student mental health.
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Connor LaGore can be reached at: clagore@njadvancemedia.com.
