A special space has been set up at Hawthorne Elementary aimed at helping students find the right energy balance for the classroom.
The first of its kind in Delta, as well as one of only a few in the province, the sensory room and its specialized equipment are now open to any of the Ladner school's pupils.
Accompanied by an educational assistant, students who have either too much energy or not enough can spend a few minutes in the sensory room to get in the right frame of mind before getting back in the class.
It's a safe, positive environment that may look like an indoor playground at first, but has been specifically designed for sensory needs. It's a pilot project that's received positive feedback from both teachers and parents.
"The reason why we've done this is we're finding a lot of kids, more now than before, are having difficulty coping in the classroom, getting their work done, trying to stay regulated," said education assistant Mary Hodgson.
"We don't know what's causing it. We just see these trends coming through and we're seeing more of it. Our positions are for special needs kids, but we also see difficulties other kids have getting their work done," she said.
Hodgson said the key is to get kids "regulated" so they can go back to class, while also teaching them how to self-regulate their own bodies.
The equipment has been specifically designed to help either rev kids up or calm them down with their progress charted afterward.
Jacquie Von Schulmann, a support teacher at the school, said she's seen many children arrive feeling anxious or lethargic.
A chart in the sensory room that children can use to describe how they feel equates their mood to an engine of a car.
The key is the get them in the "just right zone" and recognize how their body is feeling.
Von Schulmann said children are starting to learn ways to regulate their own bodies outside the school, including at home if they are feeling frustrated and unable to concentrate on their homework. A quick five-minute bike ride with a parent for a sensory break may be all they need, she said.
She added the key is to no longer punish or isolate children who are having difficulty staying focused. Teachers and principals from other schools, including those outside the Delta district, have visited the sensory room, interested in adding one to their schools.
Hawthorne Elementary acknowledges the funding contributions of the school's PAC and several South Delta businesses toward the project.
An open house to show what the sensory room is all about will take place at the school, 5160 Central Ave., on Thursday, Feb. 20 from 2:30 to 5 p.m.
