Falcon Academy of Science and Technology celebrated an exciting milestone on Nov. 3 with the grand opening of its new Sensory Room, becoming the first campus in Brea Olinda Unified School District (BOUSD) to offer a dedicated space designed to support students' sensory needs and advance inclusion across the school community.
The vision for the room began with Falcon Academy's Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), whose members recognized an opportunity to create a supportive environment where students of all abilities could take a break, regulate their emotions and sensory experiences, and return to the classroom ready to learn.
Through a collaborative effort between Falcon Academy, the District and generous community partners, that vision became a reality. An existing portable classroom on campus was transformed into a welcoming sensory space, made possible through contributions from Falcon Academy's PTO, Brea Rotary, IKEA of West Covina and the non-profit AUsome Sauce.
The thoughtfully designed room features a variety of sensory experiences, including different textures and textiles, calming areas, opportunities for movement and activity, and a small trampoline. These features offer students different ways to engage their senses, find comfort and recharge in an environment tailored to their individual needs.
The Sensory Room will serve as an additional resource within Falcon Academy's existing student support system. With counselors available at every BOUSD school, students already have access to professionals who help support their social-emotional well-being. At Falcon Academy, counselors will be able to incorporate the Sensory Room into that support, working in collaboration with teachers and instructional aides to identify and refer students who may benefit from time in the space. Whether a student needs a calming environment, an opportunity for movement or simply a moment to recharge, the room provides another way for staff to respond to individual student needs and help students return to learning feeling supported and ready to participate.
"Our goal was to create more than just a room. We wanted to create a space for all students of all abilities to feel safe, supported, understood and celebrated," said Falcon Academy PTO President Kim Sommer during the grand opening celebration. "A place where they can take a moment to regulate and recharge so that they can return to their classrooms ready to learn. And while we are incredibly proud to be the first in Brea to have a space like this, our hope is that we won't be the last."
District staff, members of the BOUSD Board of Education, Falcon Academy families and community supporters gathered on Nov. 3 to celebrate the achievement and tour the new space. Falcon Academy Principal Dr. Jeannie Kim had the honor of officially cutting the ribbon, marking the opening of a project made possible through the commitment and generosity of the school community.
"This is what happens when our staff and community come together to address an important need in our community," Dr. Kim shared. "I want to thank Falcon's PTO, Brea Rotary, IKEA and AUsome Sauce for all of their support with this project."
The new Sensory Room represents more than an additional resource on campus. It reflects the power of community partnerships and a shared commitment to ensuring students have access to environments that recognize and celebrate their individual strengths and needs.
As the celebration concluded, Sommer expressed her gratitude to everyone who helped bring the project to life and shared a message that captures the spirit behind the initiative: "Inclusion shouldn't be the exception, it should be the expectation."
With its new Sensory Room, Falcon Academy is taking an important step toward making that expectation a reality, creating more opportunities for students to feel a sense of belonging, find the support they need and thrive at school.