WE Revamps Sensory Hallway

With the help of alumni donations from the Class of 1970 obtained through a Cheltenham School District Foundation Grant written by Principal Jim Taylor and support from the CSD Office of Special Education, Wyncote Elementary has revamped its sensory hallway. The team of Jessica Bruckner, Angelina Schalk, and Lisa Landolfi made this idea a reality when they proposed the idea to Principal Jim Taylor after the school received the alumni donation. After a few years, a lot of support and hard work, the new sensory hallway will be opening after Thanksgiving break. 

The trio worked alongside Special Education and in collaboration with Fun and Function to redesign the sensory hallway. The new design incorporates self contained, quiet sensory playscapes to help students self regulate when they’re feeling overwhelmed or overstimulated. The goal of the new, more streamlined design is to provide a safe space for students to regulate while also preparing them to get back to the classroom and ready to learn in a timely manner. 

While the hallway will be available to all students at Wyncote, it is intended for priority use for the four autistic support classrooms, as well as students with sensory needs. The team working on this project wants to ensure the hallway is being used intentionally and with supervision. While it is a fun space for children to play, it is intended to be used for occupational and physical therapy, and regulation to return students to a base level so they are ready to learn in the classroom. 

Currently, support staff training on how the brain works is taking place so they can determine when it's appropriate to use the hallway. Students will also be gathering for a PBIS lesson to understand what the hallway is for and explain the benefit it provides for their classmates. 

New hallway slideshow>