Jill Kriz-Hurley from McGovern Middle School will use $2,668.17 for her idea, “Break Bags.”

Jill will purchase infinity cubes, fidgets, timers, sensory water beads, magnetic ring sets, mindful mazes, liquid motion bubblers, sketch pads, and art supplies to create break bags that can be used by more than 250 students to help with mindfulness and self-regulation strategies. Research has shown that materials like this help students re-energize, refocus, and give their brains a much-needed boost. In the application, she wrote, “Students will identify 2-3 tools that will help them in a particular class or throughout their day. After meeting with the student to create a plan, the teacher will fill a break bag with the agreed upon tools to keep in their classroom.”