Students Adjust to Changes in Peace Room

As these new leaders make the space their own, some students come to the Peace Room to strengthen connections they previously held with the new leaders.

Students with prior connections to Peace Room leaders have begun to find more comfort in the space, according to senior Erikka Coleman.

Sophomore Caleb Mackenna says he sees Mr. Blount as a “big brother” and has recently started going to the Peace Room to strengthen his bond with Mr. Blount.

“Knowing he is there is something I can always fall back on, just in case,” says Caleb. Moving forward, Ms. Collier hopes that the Peace Room continues to be a space in the building.

However, beyond just the Peace Room, she also hopes that other rooms in the school remove the “barriers” found in a school building, making every space feel like a Peace Room.

As Ms. Collier said, “day to day is hard, and it does not have to be.”

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For Autumn, the Peace Room is an accessible space where she can go to have a quiet place to herself, while Student Services is a more specialized space and often less accessible due to the counselors’ busy schedules.

“[In] Student Services, you’re kind of expected to talk to people. It is a lot easier to just go to the Peace Room and have a quiet place,” said Autumn, “I know the counselors are really busy, and they have tons of students to attend to, so it’s a lot easier to have the Peace Room as an option.”

Autumn says the Peace Room and the guidance counselors have their separate benefits as resources and safe spaces for students.

“It really benefits the students to not only have a place to go talk to your counselors but also just having a place to be quiet,” she said.

The Peace Room staff members are working to maintain the Peace Room as a safe space.

Each new staff member brings something to the table, according to Mr. Greengold, Alternative Education Paraeducator.

“They’re making it their own space as well, so kids can relate,” he said.

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