Grants in Action: A Calmer Kind of Classroom
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
What if leading the whole class in a deep breath was the best job of the day?
In one kindergarten classroom at Hilder Pearson Elementary, the day often starts the same way: with a deep breath, led by a student.
Thanks to a North Kitsap Schools Foundation grant, teacher Michelle Scarr brought in book bags, small rugs, a breathing ball, kinetic sand, toys, and art supplies, a mix of social-emotional and STEM materials built for her youngest learners. The materials aren’t consumable, so her classroom will use them for years to come.
The breathing ball became part of the daily routine right away. It is used every morning during the class meeting, and leading the breathing is a classroom job a student takes on each day. For a kindergartner, guiding the whole class through a calm moment is a real responsibility, and it gives every student a turn to lead.
The new rugs gave students places to sit together on the floor, with SEL and STEM materials within reach. The room now has space to gather, settle, and work with their hands.
Then there’s the kinetic sand, which turned out to be a favorite. Michelle made it a morning activity where students take turns being creative. It helps with fine motor skills, and it’s become one of their favorite parts of the day.
The students love the new materials, and Michelle says they exceeded her expectations. Looking back, there’s nothing she would have changed. She shared the news in her class newsletter, letting parents and the community know about the generosity behind the grant.
Nineteen students are a little calmer, a little more focused, and a little more at home in their classroom because of it.
None of it was expensive or complicated. It was a community choosing to give its youngest learners a softer place to land, and that choice will be felt by every class that passes through this room for years to come. That is what support looks like up close.
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