Lincoln School's Sensory Room just got a lot more calming and soothing thanks to a grant from the Macomb Educational Foundation (MEF).
Second grade teacher Stephanie Coupland recently applied for an MEF grant to add new items to improve the school's sensory room, which is used to provide a calming, multi-sensory experience for students. According to Coupland, the room includes objects to provide specific needs to individual students for therapeutic benefits and to promote overall well-being.
'Having new things in the room was so important to me, as well as my husband who also teaches at Lincoln Elementary School. We work with students who need a way to manage sensory overload and can have a safe, calming environment where they can explore their senses and develop self-regulation skills,' she explained. 'This sensory room is available to all Lincoln School students who can benefit, and they can visit with an adult during a scheduled time.'
The nearly $942 grant from the MEF allowed Coupland to purchase a calming compression chair, a balance beam, an indoor floor bubble wall water fountain, an aquarium fish bubble light tube and liquid floor tiles.
'After visiting MacArthur School and seeing their sensory room, I was amazed,' she added. 'I talked to their principal, Kristi Reusch, who applied for grant funding to improve their sensory room, and I asked her for a list of things she ordered. She sent me the list, and I asked the Macomb Education Foundation to help provide some of the same multisensory items MacArthur had.
'I am so thankful to the MEF for their continued support for education,' Coupland said. 'They have helped to not only improve our sensory room at Lincoln, but they have provided funds to help our students thrive emotionally and intellectually for many years to come.'
About the MEF
The Macomb Educational Foundation was established as a nonprofit corporation in 1992 to raise and distribute funding for educational opportunities that might otherwise be unattainable due to budgetary constraints. The Foundation aims to support efforts that complement, enrich, and enhance educational programs and opportunities within Macomb Community District No. 185.
Led by Former Assistant Superintendent of Schools Louis Battin, MEF's original goal, which remains true today, is to support the children and educators of Macomb Schools by providing additional assistance for academic and extracurricular programs, classroom supplies, and more.
The foundation is managed by a Board of Directors composed of 15 voting members, including community members and faculty. Current MEF Board members include Karen Severs, Shelley Kreps, Jerry Cremer, Nigel Graham, Bess Thompson (president), Rooney Dively, Lisa Dennis, Greg Butler, Sandy Taylor, and Nick Knowles. Pam Burnham, Liz Hardisty, Mary Ann Severs, Trish Cramer Doll and Hailea Hadsall represent Macomb teachers.
Funds are acquired through private and corporate donations, memorials, bequests, and other fundraising projects. Since its inception, more than $300,000 has been distributed by the Macomb Educational Foundation for projects benefiting students at MacArthur School, Lincoln School, Edison School, Macomb Junior High and Macomb Senior High.
