ALL NEWS

New ‘Zen Den’ for Orem schools with at-risk students

Dec 21, 2021, 12:18 PM | Updated: Dec 28, 2021, 5:30 am

Student drawing in the Zen Den. Photo: Linda McCoy...

Student drawing in the Zen Den. Photo: Linda McCoy

OREM, Utah — Two schools in American Fork will construct a wellness room called a “Zen Den” for students. The rooms will serve as a space for students to process their emotions.

KSL NewsRadio’s Lindsay Aerts reported on the effort that is underway.

Aerts spoke to the school’s wellness coordinator, Linda McCoy, about the project and the schools that are involved.

The participating high schools

McCoy explained that Polaris and Summit High Schools are in the same building. 

Polaris is an alternative school that serves students who are at risk of not graduating.

Summit is a program that works specifically with students who are in state custody, in foster care, or have guardians other than their parents. Summit also works with students who are “‘at risk’ for educational failure,” meaning they have not succeeded in other school programs.

The Zen Den project

McCoy described the Zen Den as a “safe haven;” a place where students can go for a quick reset if they are feeling anxious about a test, relationships, or worried about any area of their life.

McCoy, Polaris principal Kori Thomas, and school psychologist McKell Nelson, have been working on the project for roughly a year.

The trio modeled their schools’ wellness room on a Washington County School District effort. McCoy visited with the program’s coordinators in St. George last summer. She was trained in data collection so that the success of the Zen Den can be measured and tracked. 

The Washington County school wellness programs have already shown promising results in the data.

In addition to support from the Alpine School District, the project received funding from the Cook Center for Human Connection, a Utah-based mental health support organization. Decorations for the Zen Den were provided at cost from Osmond Designs.  

Zen Den decorated with furniture from Osmond Designs. Photo: Linda McCoy

How will it work?

When the Zen Den opens for students, there will be hall passes in every classroom. Students will be granted the agency to grab a hall pass at any point, without consulting their teachers. They will check in with McCoy, or another member of staff, about their mood both before and after entering the room.

Students will have ten minutes in the room and the option to grab a coping tool.

Instructions for time spent in the Zen Den; check in, pick a tool, get a timer, find a spot, clean up. Photo: Linda McCoy.

The mood check in before and after time spent in the Zen Den will serve as data for the Alpine District. 

McCoy hopes they can eventually expand this type of space to other schools, said Aerts. She expects the room will teach students new coping mechanisms and how to regulate their emotions. 


Related reading:

 

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

All News

"Godzilla x Kong" could have gone without a number of special effects....

Steve Salles

KSL Movie Show review: ‘Godzilla x Kong’ would have been better with more story, less flash

The non-stop, splashy action of 'Godzilla x Kong' started to run together like a psychedelic, neon-tinted kaleidoscope.

23 minutes ago

Louis Gosset Jr....

BETH HARRIS Associated Press

Louis Gossett Jr., 1st Black man to win supporting actor Oscar, dies at 87

Actor Louis Gossett Jr. has died at the age of 87. He won an Oscar and an Emmy winner for his role in the seminal TV miniseries "Roots".

26 minutes ago

easter egg basket shown, easter spending will be in the billions in the us...

Peter Johnston

Easter spending could bring a $22 billion golden egg for retailers

Easter spending might not be as high this year compared to 2023 but Americans are still expected to spend $177 each on the holiday.

54 minutes ago

a person pumps gas, which is expected to lower in price in 2023...

Andrew Adams, KSL TV

Data shows significant uptick in gas prices over past month in Salt Lake area

AAA gas prices showed Utah with an average price of $3.77 as of Thursday morning, up from nearly $3.13 a month ago.

1 hour ago

planting trees in a container...

Mitchell von Puttkammer

Dig, clip, water: Planting trees in the spring

It's a great time of year to plant trees, but where do you start? KSL Greenhouse Hosts Maria Shilaos and Taun Beddes dig up everything you need to know to get started.

2 hours ago

The steel frame of the Francis Scott Key Bridge sits on top of the container ship Dali after the br...

Nick Perry

Baltimore bridge collapse puts the highly specialized role of ship’s pilot under the spotlight

The highly specialized role — in which a pilot temporarily takes control of a ship from its regular captain — is coming under the spotlight this week.

10 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

New ‘Zen Den’ for Orem schools with at-risk students