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Date: 3/23/2021
EASTHAMPTON – A new sensory path on the Center/Pepin Elementary playground is providing students with a “safe and fun” activity during mask breaks at school.
According to Jill Pasquini-Torchia, the principal at Center/Pepin, the design and construction of this sensory path was brought to completion with the help of Occupational Therapist Lori Bernardi; School Counselor Riane Dermody; Special Education teacher Heather Dean; School Psychologist Christina Howard; and parent educators Cianalyn Ricardi and Patty Turcotte.
“[Bernardi] helped us come up with the design and plan what activities on a sensory path might be best for our students,” said Pasquini-Torchia.
This particular sensory path includes drawings on the ground that involve movement for students. “We chose movements such as ‘jump’ and ‘follow line’ because it requires our students to focus, and it also helps our students regulate their bodies,” she added.
The playground at Center/Pepin was closed up until mid-march, according to Pasquini-Torchia. With it now back open, students and staff are invited to get some fresh air and move around in this specific area, while practicing social distancing at the same time.
“It’s been a big hit with our students,” said Pasquini-Torchia. “And we plan on adding more to it as time goes on.”
The school has different classes going out to the sensory path at different times throughout the school day, according to the principal. “We want to keep the number of students that are using it at the same time small, allowing them to keep distance from one another,” she said.
Center/Pepin plans on utilizing the sensory path as a playground tool well after the COVID-19 pandemic. “[The path] provides a structure in a safe and fun atmosphere for students to use during their mask breaks,” said Pasquini-Torchia. “We want to utilize outdoor spaces during the COVID crisis as much as we can.”
Maple Elementary School also has their own sensory path within their outdoor playground. Representatives from the school were unable to comment about the addition as of press time.