'Calming Spaces' Help Montclair Students To Stay Positive

MONTCLAIR, NJ — A middle school in Montclair is trying a new way of encouraging a positive mindset for their students: “calming spaces.”

According to a news release from the district, Renaissance Middle School recently launched a “calming spaces” pilot in four of its classrooms. Each area has a soft rug, a beanbag chair and a small bin with sensory items, as well as coloring books and a three-minute sand timer.

The launch of the pilot includes one calming space per grade and one in a school-wide area, but the goal is to expand the program to every classroom.

The pilot has its roots in a December staff training led by Dr. Kristen Niemczyk-Kistner, a social worker at Renaissance, in the use of two social-emotional learning tools, Positive Discipline in the Classroom and Zones of Regulation.

“Positive Discipline is based on the principles of positive psychology which I incorporate in most of my counseling services and training programs,” Niemczyk-Kistner said. “I have created a weekly Social Emotional Learning program which is adapted from the Zones of Regulation curriculum and positive psychology.”

Renaissance’s School Action Team for Partnership (SATp) supported the idea of a calming spaces pilot program, incorporating Niemczyk-Kistner’s ideas and reaching out to families for assistance – which they provided in the form of donations.

"The Renaissance SATp is committed to this positive initiative aimed at helping students learn to regulate their emotions and get the most out of the school day,” principal Maria Francisco said. “We asked, and Renaissance families answered.”

Want to help keep this initiative viable with services or other help? Contact SATp committee member Kristin Wald, who is brainstorming fundraisers to allow for replacement and refreshment of the spaces as time goes on, at kristindwald@gmail.com.

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