10 minute read
Satisfying the Senses
Fifth-grader Asher Gross plays in the sensory room’s ball pit.
A ‘Priceless’ Addition Meets Sensory Needs
Advertisement
BY COBB SCHOOLS
Priceless — that’s the word Baker Elementary School teachers use to describe how it feels to see the smiles and look of pure joy on their students’ faces as they explore the different stations inside the school’s new sensory room. From a ball pit and walls of activities to a mini trampoline and a piano for their feet, the room provides a space where special-needs students can find a variety of options to meet their individualized needs.
Baker teachers knew what their students needed, and Piedmont Church helped meet those needs.
“If it weren't for (Piedmont Church), we wouldn't be able to do it,” specialneeds preschool teacher Jana Phillips said. “We're so appreciative of the community and the support, not only Piedmont Church, but we have a lot of partners in (education) here at Baker who support us. Even just giving us lunches, they don't know how much that means to us to be able to feel the love from the outside so we can give the love to their kids.”
Phillips, who has taught special-needs students in Cobb County for 17 years,
teamed up with fellow teacher Janene Edusei to open the sensory room in August. They had the support of their administration and PTA, and they had a room. They just needed the community’s help transforming the space for their students.
“It's very important for our students because all of our students have their own individual needs,” said Edusei, an autism integrated classroom teacher for kindergarten through third grade. “A lot of them have sensory needs where they have auditory learning. They need things to help them to calm down. If they are overstimulated, we have some areas where there's a dark space for them to go into, beanbags to just relax in, a rocking chair and a weighted blanket.”
According to the two teachers, having a sensory room is an essential component of their educational day.
“It's hard to teach a child who is dysregulated,” Phillips said. “They need a place to get their sensory needs met. That is why a place like this is so important to them. If they need the crash pad, they can get on the crash pad. If they just need to calm down, they can calm down. Because once their sensory needs are met, you can teach them academically anything.”
Even though the sensory room has been open only a short time, Phillips already is seeing the impact on her students.
“The improvement that I've seen with the kids who have already been in here has been drastic,” the veteran educator said. “They come in here, and a lot of them are getting their needs met. They're able to go back into their classroom, and they're able to learn. They're able to sit there to get everything that they need to be able to learn.”
The sensory room is helping Edusei, who has taught in Cobb since 2011, achieve her goal as an educator.
“I want to give (my students) as much as I can give,” she said. “I want to give them love. I want to give them the ability to be themselves. I want to help them grow into good citizens and be productive in the community.”
Beyond all the potential the room represents for current and future students, it has another special connection to the hearts of the Baker teachers. As part of the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the school dedicated the room to the memory of two Baker students, Michael and Olivia, who both died June 21, 2021.
“This special dedication, it means a lot to me,” Phillips said. “I did have Michael in my classroom for three years. We always wanted to do something to honor them and to keep their memory alive.”
The teachers were able to share the day with Michael’s and Olivia’s families, who attended the ceremony.
“For the parents to be here and part of the ribbon cutting was very emotional for many of us,” Phillips said. “I hope they can see how much their children were loved here. We just wanted to keep their memory alive.”
The dedication and sensory room reinforce Baker’s reputation for being an inclusive environment where all children feel loved. When Edusei and Phillips bring their students to the room, they know it’s exactly what the youngsters need.
“My students are definitely engaged in this space, and they don’t want to leave,” Edusei said. “They don’t want to leave.”
Assistant Principal Tiffany Hourigan makes sure second-grader Kingston Earle stays in place.
The sensory room was dedicated to the memory of former students Michael and Olivia, who both died June 21, 2021.
JANUARY
Jan. 5: School resumes after holidays, Cobb County Schools Jan. 14: Book Swap, Kennesaw Jan. 16: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, no school Jan. 16: MLK Jr. Day Celebration and Day of Service, Acworth Jan. 28: Cobb Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner Jan. 28-29: Trains, Trains, Trains, Southern Museum, Kennesaw
FEBRUARY
Feb. 2: State of the City Address, Acworth Feb. 4: Cobb County Stream Clean Up, Olley Creek Feb. 4: Kennesaw Valentine’s Dance Party Feb. 10: Southern Spirits, Southern Museum, Kennesaw Feb. 17-20: Great Backyard Bird Count, Smith-Gilbert Gardens Feb. 20-24: Winter Break, Cobb County Schools Feb. 25: Polar Plunge, Acworth Beach at Cauble Park Feb. 25: African-American History Month Celebration, Southern Museum, Kennesaw
MARCH
March 1: Readers’ Choice nominations open March 2: Read Across America Day March 4: Kennesaw Touch-a-Truck March 6: Early release day, Cobb County Schools March 12: Daylight saving time begins March 25: Women’s History Month Celebration, Southern Museum, Kennesaw March 31: Acworth Egg Hunt, Acworth Sports Complex March 31: Readers’ Choice nominations close
If getting organized is one of your New Year’s resolutions, this comprehensive calendar should help. We’ve included the dates for school breaks, city festivals and community events that were available at press time. Keep a watch on our community calendar each month for additional activities. For more details on city events, check www.acworth.org and www.kennesaw-ga.gov.
APRIL
April 1: Kennesaw Bunny Breakfast April 1: Kennesaw Easter Egg Hunt, Smith-Gilbert Gardens April 1: Western & Atlantic Bus Tour, Kennesaw April 3-7: Spring Break, Cobb County Schools April 7: Acworth Farmers Market opens April 15-16: Acworth Art Fest, downtown April 22: Live at Logan Farm Park, Acworth April 22: Kennesaw Beer & Wine Festival April 22-23: Kennesaw Big Shanty Festival April 29: Annual Plant Sale, Smith-Gilbert Gardens
MAY
May 4: Acworth City Hall National Day of Prayer Event May 6: Acworth-Cobb Dragon Boat Festival, Dallas Landing Park May 6: French Gratitude Train Celebration, Southern Museum, Kennesaw May 6: Outdoor Movie Series, Swift-Cantrell Park, Kennesaw May 12-13: Smoke on the Lake BBQ Festival, Logan Farm Park May 13: Rose Garden Gala, Smith-Gilbert Gardens May 15: Readers’ Choice voting begins May 20: Mount Paran Christian School graduation at 9 a.m. May 20: North Cobb Christian School graduation at 10 a.m. May 22-23: Early release days, Cobb County Schools May 24: Last Day of School, early release day May 27: Acworth Memorial Day Ceremony, Cauble Park
*Graduations for Allatoona, Harrison, Kennesaw Mountain and North Cobb high schools. www.cobbk12.org
June 2-4: Dixie Highway 90-Mile Yard Sale June 3: Outdoor Movie Series, Swift-Cantrell Park, Kennesaw June 10: Civil War History Day, Southern Museum, Kennesaw June 17: Concert on the Green: A Juneteenth Celebration, Logan Farm Park June 30: Readers’ Choice voting ends
*Look for the annual Acworth Daddy-Daughter Date Night.
JULY
July 3: Salute to America, downtown Kennesaw July 3: Southern Spirits, Kennesaw July 4: Fourth of July Concert and Fireworks, Cauble Park, Acworth July 22: Railroad Rendezvous, Southern Museum, Kennesaw July 22: Outdoor Movie Series, Swift-Cantrell Park, Kennesaw
AUGUST
Aug. 1: First Day of School Aug. 18-19: Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival, Adams Park, Kennesaw Aug. 18-19: Great Pollinator Census, Smith-Gilbert Gardens Aug. 26: Annual Hummingbird Banding, Smith-Gilbert Gardens
*Readers’ Choice winners announced in the August issues.
SEPTEMBER
Sept. 9: Pizza, Pints & Pigskins, Logan Farm Park, Acworth Sept. 16-17: Acworth Mother-Son Campout, Proctor Landing Park Sept. 23: Concert on the Green: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, Logan Farm Park Sept. 25-29: Fall Break, Cobb County Schools Sept. 30: Great Lake Allatoona Cleanup
*Cars on the Lake in Acworth will happen this month.
Oct. 7: Taste of Acworth, downtown Oct. 14: Fall-O-Ween, Swift-Cantrell Park, Kennesaw Oct. 21: Halloween JamBOOree, Logan Farm Park Oct. 27: Acworth Farmers Market closes
NOVEMBER
Nov. 4: Acworth Beer & Wine Fest, Logan Farm Park Nov. 4: Taste of Kennesaw, downtown Nov. 5: Daylight saving time ends Nov. 10: Veterans Day Luncheon, Kennesaw Nov. 11: Acworth Veterans Day Ceremony, Cauble Park Nov. 18: Acworth Turkey Chase, downtown Nov. 20-24: Thanksgiving Break, Cobb County Schools Nov. 23: Marietta Daily Journal Gobble Jog
DECEMBER
Dec. 1: Santa’s Arrival, downtown Acworth Dec. 2: Breakfast with Santa, Kennesaw Dec. 2: A Day with Santa, downtown Kennesaw Dec. 2, 9: Christmas in Acworth, Depot Park Dec. 9: Breakfast With the Grinch, Acworth Community Center Dec. 9: All Aboard for Holiday Fun, Southern Museum, Kennesaw Dec. 13: Acworth Christmas Golf Cart Parade, Cauble Park Dec. 20-Jan. 3: Christmas Break, Cobb County Schools
*Look for the Acworth and Kennesaw Menorah Lightings.
BEST FOR BRIDAL
2023
Second Place: Cakehouse on Main, Acworth
Runner-up: Cakes by Anna, Woodstock P BEAUTY (HAIR & MAKEUP)
Winner: B. Wild Hair and Makeup, Roswell
Second Place: A Glamour Affair, Marietta Runner-up: Three-13 Salon, Spa & Boutique, Marietta
P BRIDAL SHOP
Winner: Anna Christine Bridal, Canton
Second Place: A Formal Occasion, Kennesaw Runner-up: Bravura Fashion, Marietta
P CATERING
Winner: Zeigler's BBQ & Catering, Acworth
Second Place (tied): - Big Girls Catering & Events, Acworth - Prestige Catering, Canton - Talk of the Town, Roswell
CONGRATULATIONS to the WINNERS!
P CINEMA/VIDEOGRAPHY
Winner: Keystone Production Network, Acworth
Second Place: Tiffany Greeson Photography, Calhoun Runner-up (tied): - Burns Videography, Acworth - NE Studios, Acworth
P DECOR
In our quest to help couples prepare for their weddings and to support local businesses, Aroundabout Local Media launched its first Best for Bridal contest in October — which we understand is the new June in the wedding world. Check out the winners on these pages and on our website: www.aroundaboutlocalmedia.com. We hope this list helps you prepare for your big day.
While we’re talking weddings, we’d love to help you celebrate this milestone by sharing your engagement stories. If your story is chosen for a future feature in our magazines, you will be entered to win a prize. Just scan the QR code to open our engagement story form, where you can write your story and upload photos, or email edit@aroundaboutmagazines.com and put Best for Bridal in the subject line. Be sure to let us know how we can contact you.
Winner: Rosely Events, Cherokee County
Second Place: The Prissy Plate Co., Cartersville
Runner-up (tied): - A Peachy Keen Wedding, Marietta - House of Bash, Alpharetta P ENTERTAINMENT (DJ & BAND)
Winner: DJ Ray’s Entertainment, Woodstock
Second Place: DJ Dano North Georgia Entertainment, Marietta Runner-up (tied): - Club Rett DJ & Photobooth Services, Marietta - Pirone Entertainment — North GA Wedding DJ,
Woodstock
P FAVORS
Winner: Signature Keepsakes, Acworth
Second Place: Designs on Main, Jasper
SCAN NOW TO SUBMIT YOUR ENGAGEMENT
Winner: Wedding Wishes by Wanda, Woodstock
Second Place (tied): - Canton Florist, Canton - Faith Designs Florist, Kennesaw - South Canton Florist, Canton - West End Florist, Rome
P PHOTOGRAPHY
Winner (tied): - 24/7 Digital Media Productions, Acworth - Harlow’s Photography + Film, Ball Ground
Runner-up: Kristin Faye Photography, Cartersville
P PLANNER
Winner (tied): - Kristina Eaton Signature Weddings, Acworth - Rosely Events, Cherokee County
Runner-up: Natalie Durham Events, Canton
P STATIONERY
Winner: C’est La Vie Stationery, Kennesaw
Second Place (tied): - Inkwell Designers, Woodstock - Sugar and Spice Invitations, Waleska
P TRANSPORTATION
Winner: RIS Limousine & Transportation, Ball Ground
Second Place (tied): - Atlanta Party Bus, Kennesaw - Top Hat Limousine, Woodstock
P TUXEDO SHOP
Winner (tied): - Little River Clothing, Woodstock - Savvi Formalwear, Marietta
Runner-up: A Formal Affair, Roswell P VENUE
Winner: The Cowan Historic Mill, Acworth
Second Place: Lewallen Farms, Waleska Runner-up: Ivy & Oak Weddings, Talking Rock
ENGAGEMENT STORY!
Struggling with UNFILED TAXES?
Let Denson Pepper resolve your IRS tax problems.
Take away the stress of worrying about the IRS.
Schedule your FREE in-person consultation.
Denson Pepper, CPA 678-797-5241 DensonPepperCPA.com ✓ Formulate a strategy to resolve your tax issues.
✓ Negotiate with the IRS.
✓ File your back taxes.
✓ Let Denson talk to the
IRS for you.
