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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Welch from Charlottesville, VA is requesting flexible seating through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Welch is requesting

Jaguar Zen Den: A Calm Space for Big Feelings

Help me give my students a Jaguar Zen Den to offer students a calming space to self-regulate using mindfulness tools, helping them return to class ready to learn and supporting our journey toward becoming a trauma-informed, compassionate school.

FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Welch's classroom raised $1,116

This project is fully funded

My Project

Middle school can be overwhelming. Between academic pressure, peer dynamics, and life outside of school, our students carry a lot each day. At Journey Middle School, our counseling suite sees a steady flow of students needing emotional support—but sometimes, all hands are on deck helping others. That’s where the Jaguar Zen Den comes in.

We propose creating a self-regulation space—a safe, calm area within our counseling suite—where students can independently de-escalate, reflect, and reset using mindfulness tools and sensory supports.

This space would serve students who may not need one-on-one support but need a moment to manage their emotions before returning to class.

WHY IT MATTERS

Journey Middle School is embarking on a five-year “journey” to become a trauma-informed, compassionate school. We know that behavior is communication and dysregulated students are not ready to learn. Research from the Child Mind Institute and Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child underscores the importance of co-regulation and self-regulation in helping students build executive function and emotional resilience.

Creating this Zen Den is a direct investment in helping students:

🧘‍♀️ Learn to regulate their emotions using mindfulness techniques

📚 Return to class sooner, focused and ready to learn

💪 Develop lifelong coping skills for stress, anxiety, and frustration

THE VISION

Our goal is to reduce classroom disruptions by empowering students with tools they can use to manage big feelings independently. When equipped to regulate, students are more likely to rejoin class calm, confident, and capable. With your support, our Jaguar Zen Den will be a space where mindfulness meets middle school—where students learn it’s okay to pause, breathe, and then carry on.

Let’s build a space where peace leads to progress. 🌿

Ms. Welch Journey Middle School Grades 6-8

Equity Focus

This project directly supports students at a historically underfunded school. Learn more about our Equity Focus.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Charlottesville, VA View local requests

More than half of students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

635 students impacted 16donors

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Expand the "Where your donation goes" section below to see exactly what Ms. Welch is requesting.

See our finances

TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Lakeshore Natural Accents Leaves Classroom Carpet - 4' x 6' • Lakeshore Learning Materials $179.00 1 $179.00
Shintenchi 47" Small Modern Loveseat Couch Sofa, Fabric Upholstered 2-Seat Sofa, Love Seat Furniture with 2 Pillows, Wood Leg for Small Space, Living Room, Bedroom, Apartment, Yellow • Amazon Business $167.99 1 $167.99
Amazon Basics Round Storage End Table, Side Table with Cloth Basket, Charcoal/Heather Gray, 17.7 x 17.7 x 18.9 in • Amazon Business $41.20 2 $82.40
LuMAGIC 7-pk Tap Tap Sensory Lights - Touch & Remote Controlled Multicolored Magnetic Hexagon Lights, Interactive & Calming for Sensory Rooms and Kids’ Bedrooms • Amazon Business $62.99 1 $62.99
50 Pcs Fidget Toys Pack - Stocking Stuffers for Kids, Gifts for Kids, Party Favors - Adults Stress Relief Sensory Toy - ADHD Toys Bulk for Classroom Treasure Box Prizes - Pop Its • Amazon Business $23.95 2 $47.90
Coloring Without Borders: Collaborative, Bilingual Coloring Book (Spanish English book, newcomers, English language learners, kindness, art therapy) • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $22.00 2 $44.00
Light Table Manipulatives | Light Box for Kids | Sand Painting Light Box | Light Up Sensory Table | Light Table Toys | Kids Light Table | Shine Bright Light Box | 16"LED Light Box 3 Modes(Green) • Amazon Business $41.99 1 $41.99
GOSSI Home Décor Imitation 3-Tier Stone Wall Tabletop Fountain Many Natural River Rock Office Relaxing Desktop Zen Waterfall Meditation Tabletop Fountain LED Lights Fountain Christmas Decorations • Amazon Business $36.99 1 $36.99
24 Pack Fast Food Squishy Toys for Kids Bulk - Slow Rising (Individually Wrapped) Small Foam Squishies 1.5-2.25" - Valentines Day Gifts for Kids Classroom Birthday Party Favors • Amazon Business $17.63 2 $35.26
Yoga and Mindfulness Practices for Teens Card Deck • Amazon Business $24.99 1 $24.99
TOMNEW Ocean Wave Projector Sound Machine, Night Light Projector with Remote Control Timer 7 Colors LED Lighting Modes Water Lamp for Kids Adults Bedroom Living Room Party Decorations Gift (White) • Amazon Business $22.49 1 $22.49
Weighted Lap Blanket for Adults 5lbs, 24"x29" Cooling Heavy Blanket, Portable Travel Weighted Blankets, Soft Small Blankets for Sleeping, Grey • Amazon Business $21.99 1 $21.99
Mindfulness 'Breathing Owl' | 4-7-8 Guided Visual Meditation Breathing Light | 3 in 1 Device with Night Light & Noise Machine for ADHD Anxiety Stress Relief Sleep - Gift for Kids Adult Women Men • Amazon Business $21.99 1 $21.99
Nuenen 54 Pcs Worry Stones Bulk Heart Moon Star Natural Crystal Stones Tiny Crystals Gemstones Assorted Thumb Quartz Crystal Stones for Graduation Teacher Gift Meditation Balancing DIY(Cute Color) • Amazon Business $19.99 1 $19.99
4E's Novelty Expandable Ball, Plastic Sensory Sphere for Kids and Adults • Amazon Business $18.61 1 $18.61
Mindfulness, Meditation and Affirmations Activity Cards for Kids and Teens - in 5 Minutes or Less Daily - Loved by Teachers, Therapists and Parents as a Teaching Tool • Amazon Business $14.98 1 $14.98
24 Pack Blank Books for Kids To Write Stories - A6 Colorful Notebooks Bulk - Unlined Travel Journals Scrapbooks for Students Sketching (4.3x5.5 in) • Amazon Business $14.39 1 $14.39
Crayola Twistables Colored Pencil Set (50ct), No Sharpen Colored Pencils For Kids, Coloring Book Pencils, Gifts for Kids, Ages 4+ • Amazon Business $14.10 1 $14.10
The Zen Den Lotus Wood Sign 15.75 x 5.9 Inch Lotus Yoga Wooden Hanging Wall Sign with Hooks Meditation Home Decor for Yoga Studio Bathroom Bedroom Spiritual Room Decoration(Light Yellow) • Amazon Business $9.99 1 $9.99
Coloring Book For Teens: Anti-Stress Designs Vol 8 (Coloring Books for Teens) • Amazon Business $7.18 1 $7.18
Good Vibes Coloring Book For Teens: A Motivational and Calming Quotes Coloring Book For Teenagers With Positive Sayings and Inspirational Affirmations for Relaxing and Building Confidence • Amazon Business $6.95 1 $6.95

Materials cost

$896.17

Vendor shipping charges

 $8.95

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$13.44

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$948.56

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$167.39

Total project goal

$1,115.95

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $1,115.95

6 Donors

-$1,010.00

Donations toward project cost

-$884.00

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$126.00

match offer

-$75.00

Match offer toward project cost

-$63.75

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$11.25

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$30.00

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Welch and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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