😀 Welcome to… The Alone Zone
Ms. Segil and Ms.O’Neill, Middle School Teachers
One thing anyone who works or lives with middle schoolers can attest to is that emotions can run high in our teens and tweens. Think about the last time you were feeling big emotions. How did you cope? Did you take a few deep breaths? Go for a walk? Maybe get some fresh air? Unfortunately, with our middle schoolers’ packed academic schedules, their options to self-soothe at school when feeling overwhelmed are often limited. Yet we all know that regulating emotions is a vital skill necessary for mental, social, and even physical well-being. Enter seventh grade's Alone Zone.
The Alone Zone is a more middle-school-minded version of a traditional “calming corner”—spaces equipped with comforting objects and soothing materials that promote mindfulness, breathing, and reflection. While the Alone Zone may have a less saccharine name, it serves the same important purpose: to provide students with a space where they can recognize and regulate their emotions in a healthy way. Located in the back corner of room 324, it features a table equipped with squishy fidgets, problem-solving puzzles, breathing buddies, and everybody’s favorite—The Pushpeel! Anytime a student feels overwhelmed, annoyed, or frustrated, they are welcome to take a short break in the Alone Zone to create some space, calm their bodies, and prepare to rejoin the class activities.
While some students still prefer movement as a way to help them calm down (some may never give up their “Wiggle Walks!”), others feel anxious about missing what's happening in class and appreciate the opportunity to have time and space to themselves without leaving the room.
The seventh grade team encourages you to ask your child about the big feelings they’re experiencing in this often stressful time. You can also reach out to your child’s advisorMs. Sweet, Ms. Coyle, or Ms. Cranefor tips and resources on how we can all work together to create a calmer, more joyful, and more successful seventh-grade year! 

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