By Jane Primerano

Middle school can be confusing, stressful, nerve-wracking and chaotic in the best of times. The past two years have been far from the best of times, but at Warren Hills Regional Middle School staff and students have an escape.

The Zen Zone was a pet project of school counselor Hope Ranalli and former teacher Heather Garcia a year before the pandemic upended life as we knew it.

Ranalli said she brought a test group of 10 students into the first Zen Zone, which she describes as a tiny closet. Once COVID hit, she applied for a Robert Hipp Grant from the New Jersey Education Association. The $5,000 WHRMS received went toward creating a classroom-sized Zen Zone, with rugs, pillows, beanbags, salt lamps and a sound system to provide relaxing music and guided meditation.

Middle School Principal Nicholas Remondelli is very supportive of the Zen Zone.

“It’s a safe landing space,” he said, noting he saw an increase in anxiety and depression as the pandemic continued. “Staff and students needed a place to decompress.”

Teachers bring classes into the Zen Zone for a break or a place to work on projects. Can also come on their own and Remondelli said his goal is to have the room serve as a drop-in space available all day.

Ranalli said teachers who work with students needing extra support for social and emotional issues often take advantage of the Zen Zone.