Catholic-themed sensory paths improve focus, strengthen faith

As a pediatric occupational therapist working in schools, Trisha Klausing knows firsthand how sensory pathways can help students learn and thrive, especially those who have difficulty managing their energy, behavior and focus.

It was during her weekly visits to a Catholic elementary school in Toledo, Ohio, that it occurred to Klausing that Catholic-themed sensory pathways would be another way to incorporate faith into the school day.

“I felt like regulation and faith formation aren’t really separate things,” Klausing said. “If a child is dysregulated, they can’t fully take in a lesson. They can’t sit with the prayer. They can’t be present with their classmates.”

A sensory pathway is a series of movement-based activities installed on a floor or wall that encourages children to move their bodies in purposeful ways, such as hopping, jumping, stretching, tracing shapes and more. These pathways allow students to regulate their bodies and prepare to learn.

However, when Klausing set out to look for faith-based sensory pathways, her search came up empty. In 2024, she took matters into her own hands and founded her company, Sacred Steps.

Sacred Steps designs Catholic-themed sensory paths. The company, which Klausing runs on her own, has had its designs installed in schools and organizations in 25 states and Canada. This week, nine schools in the Archdiocese of Omaha joined that list.

One of those schools was Holy Trinity in Hartington. Principal Stacy Uttecht said she always believed that a sensory path would benefit students. She said having one that is faith-based makes it even more meaningful.

“Our mission is to help every student build a strong relationship with God,” Uttecht said. “By incorporating this faith-filled sensory path into our school environment, we provide a daily reminder that God is always with us – even as we walk through the hallways.”

Holy Trinity Elementary School. COURTESY PHOTO

On Wednesday, Sacred Steps sensory paths were installed in Holy Trinity, St. Ludger Elementary School in Creighton and St. Mary Catholic School in Osmond. The next day, six Catholic elementary schools in Omaha and Bellevue also had them installed: Holy Cross, St. Cecilia Cathedral, St. Bernard, All Saints, and Holy Name in Omaha, and St. Bernadette in Bellevue.

Roseanne Williby, principal at St. Bernard, said the school chose the story-of-creation theme for the pre-kindergarten and first-grade hallway and the Beatitudes for the upper-grade hallway.

“These paths are interactive opportunities for all of our students to become familiar with Scripture as they experience them kinesthetically and visually,” Williby said.

St. Bernard Catholic School. COURTESY PHOTO

Holy Trinity Elementary School. COURTESY PHOTO

READ MORE FROM THE CATHOLIC VOICE: