Student group using grant for calming rooms, gardens at schools

back-to-school

A grant from the Frederick S. Upton Foundation will enable several Berrien County schools to implement new features to make students healthier. Berrien RESA Superintendent Eric Hoppstock tells us the $19,000 was awarded to the Whole Child Student Advisory group, made up of students from multiple districts.

“They have reviewed community wellness data and have brainstormed how do we improve the health and vibrancy of our communities for students,” Hoppstock said.

Hoppstock says the students looked at the data and determined schools could benefit from having “calming rooms.”

“Students could go to a place where they could regulate themselves. What we mean by that is, ‘I realize I’m getting a little stressed out. I just need a place where I could go to calm down and then I could be productive.”

Also, the students determined schools could use community gardens where they could work and benefit from having fresh produce. The Upton grant will be used to bring those features to their schools starting in the spring.