In a classroom tucked away inside Lockheed Elementary, a young student sinks into a beanbag chair.
A smile spreads across his face as the beanbag grips him like a gentle hug. Around him, the sounds of learning continue, but for this moment, the student is centered, calm and ready to refocus.
This peaceful scene will now be a common sight throughout Lockheed Elementary, thanks to a year-long project led by the Kiwanis Club of Marietta. Under the leadership of President Andy Tatnall, the club delivered 48 beanbag chairs and sensory bottles to each classroom this week, expanding the school's Comfort Corners. These corners are designed to help students manage their emotions using sensory tools like noise-canceling headphones, visual aids and now beanbags.
Credit: Marietta City Schools
Credit: Marietta City Schools
“Our population deserves a space where they can feel comforted at all times,” said Principal Tricia Patterson. “They come to us with a lot of needs—socioeconomically, emotionally, behaviorally—they come from environments that they can't control. So it's our job to take an environment that we can control and make sure it's conducive to their learning, which is what we do by letting them have a space where they can regulate and then go back to learning.”
The Kiwanis Club of Marietta and First Horizon Bank funded the $16,000 project to expand the school’s existing Comfort Corner space, sponsored by Piedmont Church. This collaboration ensured that every classroom at Lockheed Elementary now benefits from this space, enhancing the school’s overall learning environment.
“This is the highlight of our calendar year because this will touch so many students in each of these classrooms,” Tatnall said. “Every year, we chose a major emphasis project, and our past president was the one who initiated this initiative. We asked Dr. Patterson, ‘What do you need?’ And through that conversation, we determined how we could help.”
Credit: Marietta City Schools
Credit: Marietta City Schools
Teachers and staff have carefully integrated these spaces to be inclusive for all students. The corners are equipped with timers to encourage brief, effective breaks without disrupting the educational flow. The school community, including behavior specialists and counselors, plays a crucial role in guiding students to utilize these tools effectively.
Lockheed Elementary serves a diverse community where many students face various socioeconomic and emotional challenges outside the classroom, according to the school district. The introduction of Comfort Corners is part of a broader effort to create a supportive environment that addresses these needs head-on. By focusing on the emotional well-being of students, the school aims to foster resilience and enhance academic performance.
Credit: Marietta Daily Journal
Credit: Marietta Daily Journal
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