Miller Elementary School in Tierrasanta has unveiled a new space on campus, ‘The Lighthouse,” to enhance students’ mental health.
The re-purposed room, created through a partnership with Social Advocates for Youth San Diego and a two-year grant from the Prebys Foundation, has been set aside to provide support for youngsters dealing with social and emotional issues, and more.
With a student population that is 98% military-connected, said Joan Martinez, a school counselor, there are behavioral needs specific to these children that a space like “The Lighthouse” can address.
As an example, she pointed the 28 kids who enrolled at Miller Elementary in the middle of the school year.
“So if you can imagine coming mid-year and not knowing anybody, anything, having no family here,” Martinez said. “Some of these kids come from different countries like Nigeria, Korea, wherever, and there might be a language barrier, social emotional barriers, you know, culture, shock, just a myriad of things.”
Different stations at “The Lighthouse” allow students to engage with learning tools – from reading a book that describes a scenario similar to their own, writing down what they are grateful for or creating a craft to express their emotions.
A woman flips through a children’s book at “The Lighthouse” ribbon-cutting ceremony. (Photo by Tessa Balc/ Times of San Diego)Monica Moon, the senior program director at SAY San Diego, said her agency works to bring social and emotional learning into classrooms and one-on-one sessions as well. Officials hope “The Lighthouse” will function as a place for students to utilize their behavioral skills and create a sense of community.
“So really these are opportunities for kids to come and be able to connect with other children,” Moon said.
After the pandemic, Nancy Gannon Hornberger, CEO of SAY San Diego, said there has been a need to support the social-emotional skills of children. The feedback from these programs is already promising, she added.
Craft station at “The Lighthouse.” (Photo by Tessa Balc/ Times of San Diego)“The tears of relief in the parents’ eyes when they can take a suggestion like, ‘Let’s go to the playground,’ and their child who’s been glued to their Game Boy is like, ‘Look, like it’s time to put it down’ (rather) than having an argument about that,” Hornberger said. “It’s things like that, a big picture, like helping kids to really understand how to be connected to other people, how it enhances their lives, and then the communication skills that it takes.”
Ultimately, Hornberger said, she hopes that the students see ‘The Lighthouse’ as a safe space.
“You can’t underestimate what it means to have a sense of belonging,” she said. “I think all of us have had some experience where we’ve walked into a group or a room and don’t know anyone. We feel completely alone and the temptation is just like, back out.”
The special room, she hopes, will help kids understand, “this is like a warm, safe spot for you.”
For Martinez, a former military kid, being a counselor at Miller and working with children who will use “The Lighthouse,” is an honor. She sees the resource as something she would’ve benefitted from.
“I didn’t know there were counselors. I didn’t know there were others who could help when I was a kid, I just was told I had to tough it out. My mom would say, ‘It’s okay, your dad’s coming back,’ and that was the extent of my social emotional response from an adult,” Martinez said, holding back tears. “See, this is like something I would have only dreamed of.”
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