Page 13 - 2024 GPS Mid-Year (English Publication)

“Giving our students hands-on real world
experiences makes all the difference in the world!”

employees. In fact, Anderson reports that “With the purchase of a washer
and dryer for our kids to practice the full process of doing laundry, in less than
a year, we have already seen tremendous growth in their functional skills!”

When the counseling team at North Shore Senior High’s 10 Grade
th
Campus (NS10) considered and completed an application to get
funding for an idea they deemed critical, they were prioritizing the
mental health of their students. As Angie Cruz stated, “We also
aimed to reduce student anxiety and stress while creating a safe
space” for the 1,042 students at NS10. The grant provided funding
for comfortable seating, activities, tactile fabrics and surfaces,
sensory items, storage, and soft and calming decor for a calming
room for students. Often, students simply need time and strategies
to regulate their emotions, which results in them returning to class
feeling ready to learn. The room is used as a tool to teach students
calming techniques to decrease agitation, irritation, and sadness.
This gives students a chance to calm themselves before trying to
process the cause of their actions. Skills like self-awareness, resiliency,
and self-care are tools that will also benefit students outside of
school. This sensory-supportive environment provides tools to help
students understand their actions and refocus.

Again, these are just a few of the
innovative and essential classroom
projects for which teachers have
gained additional funding. Explore
a school in your area to discover
the yearly projects that are funded
and implemented. You can also
learn more about GPISD’s Education
Foundation by visiting https://www.
galenaparkisd.com/foundation.

Angie Cruz Marissa Anderson