The Student Support Team Achieve More Project

Burton Elementary School $3,500

This project aims to provide supplemental resources for the Student Support Services Team to promote wellness and support for students, parents, and staff. The goal is to build a positive and engaging school community, support the whole child, and improve school outcomes. By focusing on making the learning environment fun and inclusive, the project ensures that all scholars and parents feel valued, respected, and safe. It will equip the support team with the tools and supplies needed to foster a supportive environment where students are empowered to contribute their best.

Eagles on the Block

Eastway Elementary School $3,250

The Eastway Eagles Block Party is a spring event designed to celebrate the school community following the transition to a year-round calendar and changing boundaries. With new families and staff joining us, this block party aims to foster connections, create a sense of belonging, and showcase the diversity that strengthens our community. A wellness and education fair will include classes like yoga and Zumba, cooking demonstrations by students’ families and local chefs, and potential health screenings. This celebration will also honor our dedicated teachers and staff, encouraging parent and community engagement to show appreciation and support for all members of the Eastway family.

Relax and Read Zone

R.N. Harris Elementary School $2,500

The school library is a space that empowers young learners by fostering independence, emotional intelligence, and a love for reading. To support students’ social-emotional learning (SEL) and promote a calm, focused environment, the "Relax and Read Zone" will be created in the library. This initiative aims to improve student reading achievement, particularly at R.N. Harris Elementary, where the hope is to raise test scores to 70% across all student populations. By ensuring representation in books, accommodations for sensory needs, and wellness resources a shift in independent reading, reading stamina, circulation of new titles, and overall reading enjoyment will occur.

Sensory Support

Spring Valley Elementary School $500

This project seeks to enhance the learning environment by providing sensory tools like noise-canceling headphones, wiggle chairs, and fidget toys for students with sensory processing needs. These tools are designed to help students focus, reduce anxiety, and improve their academic and social-emotional well-being. The Sensory project aims to create a more inclusive and supportive learning environment, aligning with the commitment to equity and excellence in education. By addressing students' diverse needs, we strive to ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed and positively impact our school community.

Promoting Wellness Through Access to Menstrual Products

City of Medicine Academy $1,750

This student-led project is designed to promote wellness and self-care by providing free, accessible menstrual and hygiene products for students. The project will stock school bathrooms with pads, tampons, spray deodorants, and wipes, ensuring students have easy access to essential sanitary items. This initiative seeks to create a supportive and equitable environment, eliminating barriers students face during their menstrual cycles, improving attendance, and enhancing academic performance. With a predominantly female student body, the project will also raise awareness and destigmatize menstruation through educational flyers and outreach efforts, promoting a sense of support and inclusivity within the school community.

Supporting Whole Child Success

Club Boulevard Elementary School $3,600

This project will gain access to Character Strong Tier 2 and Tier 3 programs, which are crucial for supporting all students beyond the Tier 1 instruction already funded by the district. Character Strong’s Tier 2 offers targeted interventions for coping skills, self-regulation, relationships, and self-management, while Tier 3 focuses on anxiety, depression, and executive functioning. These tiers include intervention screening tools, evidence-based practices, progress monitoring, and resources for families. Additionally, the grant will support professional learning for educators to effectively implement and monitor these interventions, ensuring comprehensive support for students’ diverse needs.

Holt Wellness Days

Holt Elementary School $5,000

This project will implement quarterly Wellness Days for Holt Elementary students in Kindergarten through fifth grade. This initiative promotes mental health and well-being through activities such as yoga, Zumba, art therapy, journaling, movies, quiet areas, and healthy snacks. By offering diverse activities that cater to students' physical, emotional, and mental needs, Wellness Days aims to provide essential tools for supporting student well-being and resilience, creating a lasting positive impact on their lives.

Mental Health and Career Wellness Program

Lakeview School $6,000

This project addresses key areas such as mental wellness, food insecurity, career exploration, and quality of life to support students in the LIONS (Learning in an Independent One-of-a-kind Normal Stable environment) program. Many students assigned to Lakeview face significant environmental challenges, including trauma, unstable family environments, homelessness, and truancy. The Student Support Team will provide therapeutic services, mental health education, career readiness programs, and wellness activities to foster emotional resilience, well-being, and academic success, improving students' opportunities and experiences at Lakeview.

DPS Restorative Practices Ambassador Fund

Northern High School $1,000

The DPS Restorative Practices Ambassador Fund will support restorative practices training for a cohort of students, guardians, staff, and community members at Northern High School. The training, led by a local IIRP-certified specialist, aims to support discipline and student mental and social-emotional wellness. With suspension rates disproportionately affecting Black students, this initiative will equip participants with the skills to advocate for fairer, non-punitive disciplinary practices. This program is designed to be replicated annually or biannually and can be expanded to other schools with additional funding.

SPARCS Cohort 12 -"The Sparkling Bulls"

Ignite Online Academy, Rogers-Herr Middle School, & Lowe's Grove Middle School $900

This project will train six Durham Public Schools (DPS) staff to facilitate Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS), an evidence-based group therapy model for youth ages 12-21 exposed to chronic trauma or stress. SPARCS consists of 16 one-hour sessions, focusing on skills like emotional regulation, healthy relationships, and managing symptoms of chronic trauma. Trained facilitators will run six groups over the school year, serving a total of 60 students. In partnership with the Center for Child and Family Health, the program will teach Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills.

Creating Centering and Affirming Spaces

CC Spaulding Elementary School $11,000

This project will transform physical spaces throughout the school to promote wellness and a sense of belonging for students and staff. The project aims to enhance the school environment with a tiered approach, benefiting all students, with specific support for the exceptional children’s classroom and staff. Grant funds will be used to (1) add culturally affirming, joyful murals promoting literacy and belonging in both English and Spanish, (2) create a calm-down room for all students, and (3) provide essential sensory materials for the exceptional children's classroom.

From Blank Gymnasium To Wellness Center

Hope Valley Elementary School $4,000

This project aims to transform Hope Valley Elementary’s gymnasium from a stark and intimidating space into an inviting Wellness Center for students. The initiative will enhance the gym by decorating blank walls with fitness circuits, inspiring and emotional regulation posters, and sensory panels. An empty hallway will be transformed into a sensory pathway, allowing students to engage in physical activities like jumping and balancing, which promotes learning. The project will also introduce social-emotional games that foster fitness, teamwork, inclusion, and personal confidence. This dynamic space will provide opportunities for active seating and interactive study sessions.

Continued Care for Our Community

Lakewood Elementary School $3,500

Following the 2023 Lakewood Listening Project (LLP), Lakewood Elementary expressed a need to focus on health and wellness. This project will utilize multiple strategies to support students, staff, and families to center mental health and wellness. Cozy corners will be added to all new classrooms and school staff offices for students to have regulation spaces. Outdoor education and forest classrooms will be developed to include wellness needs. Restorative practices professional development and community partners built in a system of support. Lastly, the integration of before and after-school wellness activities for students, staff, and families.

Mindful Meerkats

Morehead Montessori Magnet Elementary School $1,750

This project will support providing weekly yoga sessions for every class. All classrooms will be stocked with yoga mats, and an online video hub will be created. These yoga classes will enhance academic performance, behavior, focus, self-esteem, emotional regulation, and mental clarity, contributing to overall student well-being and academic success.

Rogers-Herr Wellness Center

Rogers-Herr Middle School $5,000

This project will transform the student services suite into a holistic resource hub for mental health and well-being for students and staff. A calming corner with sensory items and comfortable seating to foster mindfulness during counseling will be created. In partnership with the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, the school’s food pantry will be enhanced ensuring dignified access to food and expanding their clothing and school supply closet. Calming baskets will be implemented in classrooms with sensory objects and mindfulness strategies for immediate emotional support. By revitalizing this space, we aim to promote a nurturing environment that addresses both emotional and practical needs, enhancing overall student success.

Take 10 WithIN

C. C. Spaulding Elementary School & Holt Elementary School $3,500

This initiative aims to enhance the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of elementary students and teachers through a daily 10-minute wellness practice featuring alternating yoga and Zumba sessions led by trained school counselors and art teachers. Over eight weeks, the program will provide yoga mats, journals, and mindfulness materials to ensure equitable access for all students. Data collected through surveys will measure improvements in emotional regulation, focus, and teacher burnout. By fostering daily self-care and mindfulness, Take 10 WithIn seeks to create a supportive school environment that can be sustained and expanded district-wide, addressing the urgent need for socio-emotional support.

Comfort Kits

DPS Hospital School $3,000

This project aims to address the declining mental health among children by providing Comfort Kits to those admitted to emergency departments in crisis. Recognizing that many children arrive alone and uncertain about their situation, the DPS Hospital School teachers are committed to offering compassion and a sense of normalcy during these challenging times. The Comfort Kits will contain materials that children can keep as their own, fostering a sense of pride, security, and ownership. Each kit will be stocked with activities and resources designed to promote mental and physical wellness, helping children cope during their hospital stay and reinforcing the message that they are seen, heard, and valued.

Warriors of Wellness: The Anansi Path to Strength and Balance

Eno Valley Elementary School $3,000

This 6-week program combines physical health activities and mindfulness practices to enhance self-awareness, emotional regulation, and a sense of belonging among elementary school boys. The program will culminate in a celebratory banquet highlighting healthy eating and recognizing the boys' achievements. Funding will be allocated for essential supplies, including yoga mats, journals, and speakers, as well as for the banquet itself. Given the growing emphasis on mental health and physical fitness, this initiative addresses the unique social and emotional challenges faced by Black and Brown boys. By integrating mindfulness with physical activities, the program aims to foster a comprehensive approach to wellness, ultimately benefiting participants' overall development and resilience.

Grupo LEAL

Little River K-8, YE Smith Elementary School, & Forest View Elementary School $3,750

This project will support the launch of Grupo LEAL student clubs. This an initiative dedicated to enhancing the mental, emotional, and academic well-being of Latinx students in Durham Public Schools (DPS). Founded in 2021, the program addresses challenges such as cultural identity, academic pressures, and systemic inequities through culturally responsive education, social-emotional learning (SEL), and leadership development. With expansion from three to six schools, Grupo LEAL offers lessons, restorative circles, and activities that foster coping skills and emotional intelligence. The program emphasizes cultural competence, engaging students in events and projects that celebrate their unique backgrounds, fostering unity and mutual respect. Recent funding has supported workshops, district event participation, and discussions on identity and bias.

Lighthouse Leaders

Bethesda Elementary School $5,000

This project will support the creation of a student club. The club will be built on the inclusion of all kids with a focus on character traits, social skills, and spreading positivity. The program will be centered on pairing general education students with exceptional children students to create compassionate connections to reach excellence! This will be a bridge to connect kids of all abilities, and skills to work together to make the world a brighter place. Focus will be placed on mental, emotional, and physical health.

Empowerment Through Wellness: A Holistic School Initiative

Murray Massenburg Elementary School & Pearsontown Elementary School $6,000

This project aims to enhance student well-being through a holistic, integrated approach that promotes physical health, emotional resilience, social skills, and environmental awareness. By incorporating activities such as mindfulness, yoga, healthy eating workshops, and emotional intelligence training, the program supports students' academic, social, and emotional development. It emphasizes physical activity and healthy habits, which are linked to improved academic performance and mental health. The initiative also engages local health professionals and hosts wellness fairs to strengthen community connections and provide valuable resources for families, fostering a collaborative approach to wellness. The program will culminate in a Wellness Week, focusing on comprehensive well-being for elementary students in an afterschool setting.

What Do Our Students Carry On Their Backpacks?

Southwest Elementary School $5,000

This project provides professional development to 50 teachers at Southwest Elementary (SWE), a Title I school with a large Dual Language Immersion program. As SWE’s immigrant and Latino student population grows, teachers need training in trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices to better support the students. Led by "Maestras con Voz" from Isla, the two-session (6-hour) training will equip teachers with tools to create a more inclusive environment. The project also includes mindfulness kits for classrooms. The initiative aims to serve as a pilot for broader district implementation.