Cajon Valley School District
Cajon Valley School District
Nestled within a vibrant tapestry of cultures, languages, and traditions, Lexington Elementary School is a place where diversity shines and community thrives. As a Title I school with over 900 students, Lexington’s campus is home to a dynamic population where 89% of students are socioeconomically disadvantaged, 60% are English Language Learners, and 18% receive special education services. At the heart of this community are school counselors Chelsea Carnegie and Ana De Maio, who are committed to addressing the social and emotional needs of every student through innovative programs.
One such initiative making a profound impact is the Peaceful Place—a multi-sensory room designed as a Tier 1 intervention accessible to all students. This welcoming space promotes self-awareness, self-reflection, and self-regulation, equipping students with essential skills to navigate their emotions and experiences.
Chelsea Carnegie, school counselor, spearheaded the creation of the Peaceful Place, transforming it into a sanctuary where students can practice social and emotional regulation. To support the program’s growth, Sahar Al Kolla joined the team as a guidance technician, working closely with the counseling staff to oversee the space’s daily operations. Their combined efforts have made the Peaceful Place a cornerstone of Lexington’s approach to fostering emotional well-being.
The Peaceful Place has quickly become a vital resource for students. In its inaugural year, the Peaceful Place contributed to a 17.5% decrease in overall behavioral incidents and a 42% reduction in “hands-on” incidents during the first nine weeks of its operation.
Encouraged by the success of the Peaceful Place, the Lexington counseling team is collaborating with the district to expand similar programs across Cajon Valley Union School District.
This year, Lexington welcomed a new team member—Nala, the school’s emotional support dog. Thanks to the efforts of Transitional Kindergarten Teacher Krisha Friberg, Nala has become an integral part of the Lexington community. Students cherish her calming presence, particularly in the Peaceful Place, where she adds an extra layer of comfort and connection.
The Peaceful Place is a shining example of how intentional, innovative programs can transform the school experience for students. Chelsea Carnegie will be sharing the story of Lexington’s Peaceful Place and its impact at the upcoming School Climate Conference at Pechanga Resort in Temecula, CA in April 2025.
At Lexington Elementary, the dedication of the counseling team and staff ensures every student has the tools and support to thrive—proving that when a community comes together, extraordinary things happen.
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Welcome to a Mindful Moment where we take a few minutes out of our busy day to slow down, recharge, and practice mindfulness together. Mindfulness is the practice of bringing our attention to the present moment with kindness and curiosity.
Are you spending most of your day supporting behavior in TK and preschool classrooms?
Are your teachers overwhelmed?Are you seeing an increase in challenging behaviors?
Is it truly a behavior issue or a signal that learning isn’t developmentally aligned?”
This professional learning experience is designed specifically for principals and assistant principals who are navigating the unique demands of Preschool and Transitional Kindergarten. Together, we’ll reframe classroom management by looking at developmentally appropriate practices, play-based learning, intentional environments, and foundational skill development.
This interactive professional learning session introduces educators to the P–3 Learning Progressions and how they support meaningful math learning from preschool through third grade. Participants will explore key mathematical areas and see how children’s mathematical understanding develops over time.
This training equips P-3 educators with strategies to deliver developmentally appropriate science and engineering instruction that reflects how young children learn through play, observation, and hands-on exploration. Guided by the P-3 learning progressions, teachers will discover ways to nurture children’s natural curiosity and build on their everyday experiences, fostering essential skills such as predicting, investigating, and problem-solving while laying a strong foundation for integrated learning.
Join us for this training opportunity for ELOP staff. Play is a crucial tool in supporting children's development and can be particularly beneficial for those who have experienced trauma. By creating a safe and supportive environment for children to engage in play, we can help them express their feelings and process their experiences in a healthy way. Incorporating play into our educational approach allows us to foster a culture where each child can thrive.
SDCOE's P-3 team welcomes you to join the 2025-26 P-3 Alignment Network. Learn and network with educators from across the county at regularly scheduled meetings geared toward educational leaders and partners.
The P-3 team is committed to providing Professional Learning opportunities throughout the year that are supportive to the work of educators within the P-3 space. Check out our calendar of upcoming events!
Regulation for all Students: The Peaceful Place at Lexington Elementary School
The California Collaborative for Learning Acceleration provides an opportunity to access free self-paced courses that provide evidenced-based strategies to boost learning acceleration in your classroom.