A student Sensory Garden was launched with a ribbon cutting at Baldwin Middle School (BMS) on Nov. 4. The Sensory Garden is a Guilford Fund for Education (GFFE) grant project submitted by BMS Pupil Services teacher Amy Albe with support from Principal Doug Hammel.

The Sensory Garden’s goal is to provide students with physical, developmental, social/emotional, multi-sensory or regulatory needs access to a designated space to optimize their health and wellness. It also positively influences all students by fostering inclusivity, collaboration, and healthy relationships with others.

Teachers and staff of BMS, members from the GFFE, and Building and Maintenance were on hand to officially open the area and to view the progress to date, including a large pergola with swing benches and wheelchair space, a climbing structure, stepping stones, flowering plants, pinwheels, wind chimes, and sensory decorations. Next spring they will add a balance beam, rock garden, recycled materials for gardening, and more sustainable plantings.

During the final phases of building, many students and staff members expressed their excitement at the new addition to the outdoor recess area at Baldwin.

The Sensory Garden was made possible with a grant awarded last March by Guilford Fund for Education. “I think the word is out that GFFE is a wonderful resource for educators and students in Guilford. We just awarded three more grants last month and have about $30,000 in applications that have just come in,” said GFFE Chairperson, NiCole Schlagheck. “We are thrilled that the teachers are reaching out as well as for the support from the community.”

The three latest grants awarded are 18 piano keyboards for a General Music Lab at Adams Middle School, two standing bikes for the media center at Adams Middle School and technology enhancements to support the new Mastery Based Diploma Assessment required for all GHS graduates, aligned with the recently refined Portrait of a Graduate program at Guilford High School.

Guilford Fund For Education (GFFE) is an all-volunteer non-profit organization that gives Guilford educators and students an avenue to explore, experiment, and bring fresh ideas for educational experiences by funding proposals that fall outside of an organization’s budget.

The GFFE is actively searching for volunteers to assist at Bee Ball and Spelling Bee events and to help with technology. Anyone wishing to make a donation, volunteer, or know of a teacher who would like to submit a proposal, please visit GFFE.org.