Caverna elementary gets $300 grant

GN1 staff
Caverna Elementary School is one of five schools to be awarded a $300 grant for use in creating a calming space or to purchase other social-emotional learning materials/supplies to be used in a comprehensive school counseling program, according to a news release from Caverna Independent Schools.
Kentucky School Counselor Association offered an opportunity to school counselors to apply for the grants, and the funds were awarded to eligible Kentucky school counselors to support the social-emotional learning of students.
This is a competitive one-time award for a single amount for the 2022-2023 school year. Micah Fields, Caverna Elementary School counselor, along with Christina Anderson, special education teacher, completed the grant application in October. The grant was written to obtain funds to create a sensory path/hallway in the school. The funds awarded will be used to develop a sensory path that will be available for use for a large number of students and will be a permanent fixture in the school building. Students can use the sensory path as a way to integrate calming strategies with the Zones of Regulation format that is used throughout the school.
Students are learning to recognize emotions within themselves and to use strategies to help them regulate their feelings and behaviors. This would incorporate an “I need a break” strategy that teaches students how to respond when they are overwhelmed and need to remove themselves from a situation, with the knowledge that they return to what they were doing when their break is over. The sensory path would be beneficial to use in multiple services that students receive as a part of their individualized education plans. One of the most important uses of the sensory path will be an extension of the existing Sensory Room. The Sensory Room is equipped with items to engage visual, tactile and auditory senses. The five winners from among about 50 applicants were announced in November. The award was presented on Thursday., all according to the news release.