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

  • Universities Continue to Launch Multimillion-Dollar Campus Transformations

    What makes the current wave of campus development especially noteworthy is its emphasis on multi-use functionality and community integration. Institutions are no longer investing solely in academic or athletic facilities in isolation. Instead, they are creating destinations that blend recreation, health, housing, and event-driven economic activity.

  • Academy of Classical Education Breaks Ground in Louisiana

    Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) recently announced the groundbreaking of a new public charter school in Covington, La., according to a news release. The Academy of Classical Education at Covington will enroll students in grades K–8 and is scheduled for completion in August 2026, just in time for the new school year.

  • Quattrocchi Kwok Architects Opens New Office in Denver

    Education planning and design firm Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) recently announced that it has opened a new office in Denver, Colo., the firm’s third overall. QKA is headquartered in Santa Rosa, Calif., and runs an East Bay Area office in Oakland.

  • University of Illinois Moves Forward with College Sports’ Largest Digital Scoreboard

    The University of Illinois in Champaign, Ill., recently announced a series of upgrades to Gies Memorial Stadium that will include the largest scoreboard in college sports, according to a news release.