Across Alpine School District, many schools are creating intentional spaces designed to support students during moments of emotional dysregulation, helping them pause, reset, and re-engage in learning.These spaces, often called wellness rooms, provide students with a safe place to go to regulate their emotions so they can stay engaged in school.
“It is a location where they can recenter, calm their nerves, or re-regulate emotions,” said Erin Gates, principal at Fox Hollow Elementary.
More than 50% of Alpine School District schools now have a dedicated wellness room. These spaces often have sensory tools, soft seating, breathing supports, and quiet activities designed to help students regain control before returning to class.
“It helps me feel calm when I feel all the hard emotions,” shared a first-grade student. “There are a lot of things in there to help me. They help me feel happy.”
Principals and educators say wellness rooms offer a proactive approach to student support. Rather than waiting for behaviors to escalate, students are given an opportunity to regulate early, often preventing bigger challenges later in the day.
Alpine School District has collaborated for several years with Dr. Jean Clinton, a world-renowned child psychiatrist, whose work emphasizes the connection between emotional regulation and learning. “If our students are expressing aspects of anxiety, their levels of learning will likely decrease,” explained Kim Jones, ASD’s Director of Student Services. “We help provide our students with self-regulation strategies to improve overall well-being so their brains are better prepared for learning.”
Educators report that this approach supports both behavior and academics. “Our wellness room helps our students self-regulate so we have fewer discipline problems,” said Melissa Allmon, principal at Freedom Elementary. “Students are able to stay at school and continue learning instead of asking to go home because they are feeling dysregulated and upset.”
Beyond the immediate classroom benefits, wellness rooms help students build lifelong skills. They reinforce a culture of care where students learn that emotions are valid, asking for help is normal, and taking time to regulate is part of learning, not a disruption to it.
As Alpine School District prioritizes a holistic approach to student well-being and growth, wellness rooms continue to provide space, tools, and understanding while keeping learning at the center of every day.