Franklin Elementary counselor outlines Fox Den sensory space and Fox Minds Matter club

Taryn Webber, Franklin Elementary school counselor, presented the school’s counseling programs for the board on Sept. 10, describing the Fox Den sensory space for third- through fifth-graders and Fox Minds Matter, a K–5 club centered on social-emotional learning.

Webber said the Fox Den is a supervised, center-based space with sensory and proprioceptive tools such as kinetic sand, bubble tubes and weighted blankets, designed to promote collaborative play, social skill development and coping strategies. She said the space is open to five to 25 students per session (she has seen more than 30 on occasion) and is offered Tuesday through Thursday during designated Fox time. General guidelines include treating the space and others with respect, not throwing items and cleaning up before leaving.

Fox Minds Matter is an optional club during a designated recess that builds on monthly counseling themes and character traits coordinated with the district’s PBIS team and OSPI counseling standards. Webber listed monthly emphases (September: respect; October: critical thinking and bully-prevention; April: growth mindset and stress management; May: collaboration and Mental Health Awareness Month) and said the club is voluntary. She described varied activities — from book clubs and discussion to sensory activities and friendship projects — and said participation is sometimes by invitation for students who would benefit most.

Board members asked about opt-in mechanics and whether the students who might benefit are participating; Webber said participation is a mix of invitations and voluntary sign-ups and that some students receive similar supports in alternate settings when appropriate.

Webber said she shares counseling materials via ParentSquare to connect home and school and that the counseling offerings are part of a broader tiered strategy including tier 1, 2 and 3 services.