Being in elementary school isn’t always easy, something Wendi Little, behavior interventionist at South Elementary, knows all too well.
“Many of our students are unsure of what they are feeling,” Little said. “They equate anger to sadness or hurt. They lack the language to express themselves.”
That’s one of many reasons why Little, along with South Elementary Principal Dr. Sandra Roy and Director of Student Services Dr. Kim Fitzpatrick, are so excited to receive a $30,000 grant from Impact 100 Ozark to create a motor lab.
“A motor lab is a specialized movement area filled with sensory input and output activities,” Little said. “These activities help students with sensory issues. They facilitate a more efficient academic environment. The space assists with calming and organizing students’ bodies through sensory input.”
Students will be able to come into the motor lab to explore a crash pad, jump on a trampoline, crawl through a tunnel or settle in a sensory hammock. They can also activate gross and fine motor skills utilizing stick pads, scooter carts, puzzles, stringing beads, and picture drawing and tracing.
“Creating a motor lab at South Elementary will give us the ability to better meet the needs of our students,” South Principal Sandra Roy said. “Many students struggle to regulate their bodies, which can lead to disruptions to learning. A motor lab will allow students to engage their body and mind to fulfill their sensory needs.”
According to its website, Impact 100 Ozark “empowers women to dramatically improve lives by collectively funding significant grants that make a lasting impact in and around Ozark, Mo.” Annually in the fall, Impact 100 Ozark awards two large grants and then $1,000 grants to finalists for their projects. The amount of the grants depends on the number of women who participated in Impact 100 that year.
“Impact 100 is a group of women who try to make a big impact on eastern Christian County and Ozark, and we’re making a big impact on Ozark Schools this year,” Impact 100 President Karen Miller said.
Ozark Executive Director of Student Services Dr. Kim Fitzpatrick said Impact 100 Ozark has created an opportunity to change the lives of young learners at South.
“This group of phenomenal women have come together to promote positive change that will absolutely impact our students, families, teachers and ultimately our community,” she said. “Impact 100 has made it possible to accelerate a program for our students and truly make a difference. We are grateful for their generosity and look forward to sharing our progress with this dedicated group of leaders.”
Learn more about Ozark’s behavior and academic interventionists at https://bit.ly/3DEswSs.
Impact 100 Ozark presents a $30,000 grant to Ozark South Elementary to create a motor lab. Pictured from left is South Assistant Principal Sarah Cooper, Impact 100 President Karen Miller, Impact 100 Grant Committee Co-Chair Debi Achor, South Behavior Interventionist Wendi Little, Impact 100 members and Ozark Board of Education members Sarah Adams Orr and Patty Quessenberry, Ozark Executive Director of Student Services Dr. Kim Fitzpatrick and South Principal Sandra Roy.
