Teddy Bears To Be Delivered To Schools To Comfort Students

BLOOMINGDALE-RIVERVIEW, FL - From Hillsborough County Public Schools: Over the next week, School Security Officers from Hillsborough Schools will deliver teddy bears to elementary school sites. The Kiwanis group donated $3000 towards the purchase of more than 900 teddy bears. Each elementary campus will get 4-5 teddy bears.

Hillsborough County Public Schools' has a new initiative called The Elementary Teddy Bear Project The Security & Emergency Management office, in partnership with the Kiwanis group, purchased teddy bears for elementary school counselors to loan or share with traumatized students throughout the school year.

This is just one of the innovative strategies the district is using to help with students' emotional and social learning. The hope is that the teddy bears will allow school psychologists and social workers to help children address unresolved emotional issues that hinder a child's socialization and learning processes.

School security officers are delivering the teddy bears as a way to build relationships with our most vulnerable students. The teddy bears will help students connect to their feelings and express themselves in constructive ways; establishing a safe and supportive learning environment for every student.

Kim Terrell, Pinecrest Elementary School Counselor, said, "The kids really love them, they can hug them and squeeze them. If they are scared or frightened or from foster homes, kids coming from foster homes or divorce or experiencing other traumatic events in their life. It's just a great way to calm them down and really connect with the kids also. They can take them home, sleep with them, take them in the car. They are so cute and loveable."