Recognizing the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on mental and emotional health, the Oregon Department of Education has encouraged schools across the state to emphasize “care and connection” as in-person school resumes this fall by building relationships and community and creating welcoming spaces for everyone. Given the population of children we serve, an extra focus on well-being is even more important — and a charge our caring staff have embraced.
Stacey Sibley, who leads Clackamas ESD’s Heron Creek Therapeutic Program for students experiencing social, emotional, behavioral and academic challenges, was inspired by the call to action. “I had a dream that the downstairs in our Heron Creek school was a cafeteria and a library,” she recalls.
And so Sibley and colleagues Ryan Musser, Tatiana Bushey and crew got to work. After a week of hauling boxes and furniture, cleaning, repainting, moving shelves and books, and installing a refrigerator and a warming oven, Heron Creek had a new library, cafeteria and dedicated space for students to undertake sensory activities with occupational therapists (like Melba Adamson, pictured).
For Sibley, it was a labor of love to make sure students and staff felt welcome this fall in a “new” school. Heron Creek moved to its new location on the Marylhurst Commons campus in the summer of 2020, but this school year marks the first time students and staff have all been together, in person, in this new space.
“My goal was to set everything up this summer so people know we care,” she said. “We are caring for them by caring about their space.”
Classes began at Heron Creek on Monday, Aug. 30, and by all accounts, Sibley achieved her goal.
“Students are excited to be back to school, and when they saw the new downstairs area they were floored,” Sibley said. “Staff are so happy to have the kids back and to be back in a routine. And they also have a renovated staff lounge where they can take a break during the day.”
The expanded spaces give staff new opportunities to bring calm and healing to Heron Creek students.
“We’re seeing a lot of fatigue in our students,” Sibley said. “They need more support building their concentration, social and classroom skills. They are having to learn how to get along again. Everyone’s been so isolated this past year.
“One thing our program is really good at, though, is seeing kids’ needs and accommodating them.”
Sibley started the year with more good news: She’ll get access to more classroom space on another floor of the building, so Heron Creek can potentially take on more students (right now it’s at capacity). And a gym in a nearby building on campus soon will become available to Heron Creek students for physical education and other activities during the cold-weather months.
“We’re so excited about having access to this extra space,” Sibley says. “Staff are over the moon. It’s really helping show students we care about their wellbeing.”
