Thursday, October 1, 2026
James A. Dever Elementary School officially opened its new Zen Den Sept. 12 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the debut of a space designed for mindfulness, reflection and emotional well-being.
The Zen Den grew out of ongoing conversations at the school about creating outdoor learning spaces.
“We’re here because we’ve been talking about outdoor classrooms for a long time,” said Principal Darren. “But then the impetus came when some of — when a lot of our teachers started talking about outdoor classrooms. Mr. Mullen (the school librarian) is always looking for an outdoor place for all of our children to read, and then that got to the board, then to the PTA, and then they just ran with it.”
The ceremony began with Gruen welcoming attendees and introducing key participants. Present were Board of Education President Anthony Grosso, Trustee Sarah Sabatino, Superintendent Judith LaRocca and Assistant Superintendent for Business and Operations Gary Gentles. Also in attendance were PTA members, teachers, social workers, and school staff.
The ceremony included a guided meditation by Kim Pierson. Students and staff participated in breathing exercises and visualization, focusing on intentions such as peace, calm and joy, reflecting the values the Zen Den is designed to support. The meditation concluded with a gesture of gratitude to the teachers, PTA and administrators who helped make the space possible.
The Zen Den is a quiet, enclosed outdoor retreat designed to provide a natural, calming environment for mindfulness and reflection. The space is framed by arborvitae trees, creating a sense of privacy and tranquility. Within the area, benches, sitting stones and tree stumps offer flexible seating options, allowing students to gather, read or practice mindfulness in small groups.
“I actually, really hope that my teacher uses it,” sixth-grade student Angelina Fasulo said. “So, then we could do some lessons in here, and we could read, and if we start a book, hopefully we could read some in here. It’s better outside, you can see all the birds, the nature — it’s fresh air. You don’t have to be in the classroom.”
The transformation of the space involved careful landscaping to integrate the elements into the natural surroundings, resulting in a serene and inviting environment. The combination of greenery, open area and thoughtfully placed seating creates a balanced outdoor classroom. Though its design is intended for year-round use, the Zen Den is especially suited to the warmer months, when the outdoor setting can be fully enjoyed.
PTA Co-President Desiree Fasulo, who attended Dever as a student, helped guide the project from its early planning stages through to completion.
“As a Reiki Master, I believe deeply in the power of mindfulness and positive energy, which I call magic, the Dever Zen Den is more than just a space,” Fasulo said. “It’s a place of peace, magic, and renewal. Here, our children can reset, our staff can find calm, and our community can be reminded that emotional well-being is just as important as academics.
“Today, as we cut the ribbon, we celebrate not just the new space, but the magic of what happens when vision, persistence and community come together,” she added. “Now, I would love for us all to cut the ribbon, begin our journey of mindfulness and magic together.”
The ribbon-cutting included celebratory bubbles blown by students to mark the official opening. Students recited a mindfulness pledge emphasizing bravery, focus and personal growth. Gruen formally declared the Zen Den open for all classes and recognized the contributions of PTA members, teachers, school staff, and district administrators.
