Subaru of Indiana Automotive Foundation awarded grants to several Indiana nonprofit organizations including one to Burnett Creek Elementary School. The organization presented the award to first grade teacher Brandy Shiflett during a ceremony December 2 at Subaru of Indiana (SIA).

Burnett Creek Elementary School received $2,476 to purchase calm down kits. This is part of a districtwide initiative to enhance social and emotional learning.

Shiflett says she pursued the project as a way for students to work through their emotions safely. "With these kits, teachers are able to use them to teach children different ways to calm themselves," explains Shiflett. "Children can’t learn when they have so much emotional baggage keeping them from concentrating. Every child will be given the opportunity to utilize these kits, not just those who have been labeled as having emotional problems. I believe with these kits we will reach children socially and emotionally."

The kits include fidgets, thinking putty, bubble timers, magic sand, sensory kits and more to help students calm themselves when they feel overwhelmed, mad or just need a break.