Mar 18, 2025, WATE, Maryville, TN: ‘My brain exploded’ Montvale Elementary students excited for new sensory room
Montvale Elementary School now has a sensory room to help students have calm, constructive days at school with the assistance of the school’s physical therapist, speech therapist and occupational therapist.
“I think students love it because it’s a relaxing place to learn and do their own different therapies,” said Nichole McCord, principal at Montvale.
Kingdom Design Ministries helped create the room, which is decorated to have the appearance of a mix of a campsite and an aquarium, with tents and a toy campfire as well as a mural of ocean animals on the wall. The room also contains a swing, a hopscotch pad and plenty of toys, but for Josh in fifth grade, the best part is the fish tank.
“My brain exploded, because I was so excited to see [the room],” Josh said. He said the sensory room makes him feel calm, cool and collected.
“I’m just so excited for the support of Kingdom Design Ministries,” McCord told 6 News. “I love the cozy spot for someone who just wants to come and chill, and I love the building part for the kids that want to be hands-on… For the ones that love to swing and have that rocking sensation, the swing is just invaluable… It’s so cute.”
From the initial reactions, she says she knows the students will love the room.
“Our students sometimes come to school a little bit dysregulated,” McCord explained.
Through this room, the school staff seeks to get students “to calm down and enjoy coming… [to] meet their sensory input and have them feel great about coming to school and be excited about learning.”
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