Edward J. Bosti Elementary School has officially opened its new Serenity Space, a room designed to help students manage stress, practice mindfulness and support emotional wellness. The idea for this calming space was born from the school’s Shared Decision-Making Committee in September. After months of thoughtful brainstorming and research, the Serenity Space opened in March and has already become a widely used resource within the school. “If a test is hard, I love to ask my teacher if I can come here for five minutes and just get my mind off of things and play with the toys, read or just sit in the tent,” said fifth grader Benjamin Rios. The room is packed with comforting and sensory-friendly items, including bean bag chairs, weighted blankets, oversized plush toys and a cozy tent. The soothing ambiance is enhanced by a galaxy light projector, sound machine, lava lamp, LED bubble tube, sound bowl, chime and more. Students can also engage with a variety of hands-on toys and tools like a puzzle pillow, Zen Garden, squishy toys, books, a drawing board and a sensory sequin wall panel. “I really like the weighted blankets, and I also just like coming in here if something’s hard during class,” said student Caitlyn Dunne. “I can just unwind and forget about what's in the back of my mind so when I go back to class, I’m calmer and can get my work done better.” “One of my favorite parts of the room is that you can come here and just have a minute or five to breathe and relax and get your mind off of everything,” added fifth grader Caroline Abel. “It’s very calming and it feels like a very safe space. You can have the LED lights on, and it just feels like you're at home because it feels like a room of your own.” “Over the years, I’ve noticed that not only students, but even staff, have been experiencing a lot of anxiety and stress,” said Principal Laura Kimball. “So, I felt like there was a need to create a space where students could come and feel safe, relax and decompress. If you’re stressed out, you’re not ready for learning, so when you can calm yourself, then you’re able to go back to class, or back to work if you’re a teacher, with a clearer mind.”
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Date Added: 4/15/2025