Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

VS America to Discuss How Physical Spaces Impact Student Well-Being

  • By Matt Jones
  • 03/09/21

VS America, a full-service manufacturer of school and office furniture, will host a webinar on Friday, March 19, discussing the opportunities and obstacles facing students as they return to school. The conversation will feature four panelists and focus on the impact of physical learning spaces on students’ mental and emotional well-being.

A survey of high-school students conducted by America’s Promise Alliance has revealed the various negative effects of COVID-19 in areas like social connection, emotional health, and learning time. Results show that 29% of students surveyed don’t feel connected to others, while 25% have difficulty sleeping due to negative emotions and 38% are concerned about their present and future education opportunities. The return to in-person learning, in other words, will entail much more than just catching up on the finer points of trigonometry.

Student well-being webinar

The webinar’s panelists include:

  • Dr. RJ Webber, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction at Novi Community Schools in Novi, Mich.
  • Dr. Caelan Soma, Chief Clinical Officer and Senior Trainer at Starr Commonwealth
  • Jill Ackers, Learning Designer at Fielding International
  • Roger B. Fisher, Associate Director of the Program on Intergroup Relations (IGR) at the University of Michigan

According to a press release, the webinar is slated to cover “how schools can create spaces to allow for the healing and connectivity needed.”

You can register here to attend. Attendees will also receive a free 6-month subscription to Starr Commonwealth’s “on-demand, trauma-informed, resilience-focused professional development.” The event will take place from 12:00–1:30 p.m. Eastern Time (9:00–10:30 a.m. Pacific Time) on Friday, March 19.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • LAN, Inc. Opens Office in College Station, Texas

    Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN) recently announced the opening of a new office in College Station, Texas, to support its regional client base, according to a news release. The organization provides engineering, design, and program management services for water, wastewater, transportation, stormwater, and education clients in the Brazos Valley.

  • California K–12 District Completes Elementary School Campus Replacement

    The West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) in Richmond, Calif., recently announced the completion of a replacement campus for Lake Elementary School, according to a news release. The school has capacity for 470 students between Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and sixth grade.

  • Niles West High School Natatorium Renovation

    Natatoriums are highly specialized spaces, and luminaires in this setting face several unique challenges. Perhaps the most significant is corrosion, which is exacerbated by high indoor humidity, condensation, and pool chemicals, often resulting in material degradation in luminaires not certified to perform in corrosive environments.

  • Illinois District Boosts Security at High-School Stadium

    Richmond-Burton Community High School in Richmond, Ill., recently announced that it has completed the redesigned entrance to its high school stadium with a new focus on school security and community engagement, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects and Engineers on the project as part of District #157’s year-long facilities master plan.

Digital Edition