Dear Parents and Guardians,
At South Lake, we are committed to providing a focused, safe, and productive learning environment for all students. While we recognize that many students use sensory "fidget" toys to help with focus and stress relief, we have encountered significant issues with certain items recently.
Effective immediately, NeeDoh stress balls and similar gel-filled squishy toys are no longer permitted on campus.
While we acknowledge the therapeutic intent of these items, we have made this decision due to the following concerns:
- Safety and Health: These items frequently rupture or "pop," releasing a jelly-like substance and can be a significant skin irritant for some children.
- Disruption to Learning: The cleanup process for these spills is extensive and causes a major distraction to the classroom flow and student engagement.
- Maintenance Demands: Our custodial and teaching staff are currently spending a disproportionate amount of time cleaning up these spills, as multiple items are breaking daily.
We ask that you please ensure your child leaves their NeeDoh and gel-filled squishies at home. We understand that some students truly benefit from tactile tools. If your child requires a sensory outlet to help them focus, please encourage them to speak with their teacher or a school counselor. We are happy to provide an alternative that support their needs without compromising the classroom environment. We will be confiscating them moving forward to avoid all the previously listed concerns.
Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us keep our classrooms clean and safe.
In kindness,
Belinda Averill
Principal