The Whale Pod, a student wellness room, was officially unveiled at RH Dana Elementary School on Friday, Nov. 7. With assistance from the Orange County Department of Education, RH Dana built the student support space with donations from families through PTSA sponsored events.
Wellness rooms are places where students feeling anxious or stressed can take a break, practice self-care with trained personnel on hand, then return to class. Counselors can help students identify triggers and effective coping strategies, although the rooms are not designed for one-on-one counseling.
The room was designed as a tranquil, welcoming space with an oceanic theme befitting of the coastal school. The room will be available for select grades on set days to start, with a lanyard checkout system to ensure there is enough room for all who need it at those times.
