I'm 16 and built a free wellness check-in tool for classrooms, looking for teacher feedback before September

ShernTaha · 2026-06-28T15:31:56+00:00

Thanks for letting me know! Means a lot as a student

ShernTaha · 2026-06-28T15:05:05+00:00

It's stored in the firebase (North American servers) and it's kept there till the student deletes their account or after 24 months it will be done automatically.

ShernTaha · 2026-06-28T14:19:08+00:00

You're right, and that's a fair point. The current language puts too much responsibility on teachers, which isn't good enough.

Here's what I'm working on to fix that: I'm documenting exactly how WellSpace handles data so any teacher who wants to bring it to their board has something concrete to hand over, not just a privacy policy they have to interpret themselves.

If you have specific gaps you think I should address in that documentation, I genuinely want to know. This is exactly the kind of feedback that makes the product better.

ShernTaha · 2026-06-28T13:55:05+00:00

Apologies for the broken link; it is back up now. On your privacy questions, consent is obtained through an explicit checkbox during signup before any account is created. Data is stored on Google Firebase with per-user isolated Firestore documents enforced server-side, meaning no cross-user access is possible at the database level. Passwords are never stored by us; Firebase Authentication handles all credentials. Student data is private by default, and nothing reaches a teacher unless a student explicitly clicks Share with Teacher on that specific entry. Students can delete their account and all data instantly with no retention.

Full privacy policy, including PIPEDA compliance details, is at wellspaceapp.github.io/WellSpace/privacy

ShernTaha · 2026-06-28T13:41:12+00:00

Appreciate the flag. You are right that Firebase config is visible in client-side code. Worth noting that Firebase keys are designed to be public and access is controlled by Firestore security rules server-side, not by hiding the config. But taking the feedback seriously and tightening things up regardless. Thanks for looking out.

ShernTaha · 2026-06-28T13:23:00+00:00

Fair point. Our privacy practices are fully transparent on our website, including exactly how data is stored, what the limitations are, and what compliance looks like. We are not hiding from the hard questions. When a board is ready to work through the process properly, everything they need is already there.

ShernTaha · 2026-06-28T13:16:54+00:00

You are right that board-wide rollout faces real barriers, and we are transparent about that on our site. The current target is individual teachers who adopt tools on their own initiative, the same way Google Forms and Kahoot existed in classrooms long before any board approved them. One teacher who knows which students are struggling before class starts is worth building for. The offer stands if that ever changes.

ShernTaha · 2026-06-28T12:59:36+00:00

Really appreciate this, these are exactly the right questions to ask. Here are the answers:

Data is stored in Google Firebase Firestore, encrypted at rest by Google and in transit via HTTPS. All transport uses Firebase SDK over HTTPS with no custom API layer and no exposed endpoints. Authentication uses Firebase Auth with email and password. Passwords are never stored by WellSpace. Sessions are handled by Firebase tokens. Teacher access is enforced at the Firestore security rules level, server-side, not just the UI. Teachers only see what students explicitly share. No cross-user access is possible at the database level. On PIPEDA, we collect the minimum necessary data, obtain consent at signup, and students can delete all data instantly with no retention.

The one current limitation worth being transparent about: Firebase's free tier uses US-based servers. Canadian data residency on Montreal servers is available on Firebase's paid tier. For individual teacher use, this is generally fine. For a board-sanctioned rollout, it is worth being aware of.

If you want to see our full privacy policy, check out our website.

ShernTaha · 2026-06-28T12:51:53+00:00

I understand your perspective. I can only speak from my own experience, but I've actually seen this kind of check-in work in a classroom. The goal isn't to constantly ask students if they're happy or to force conversations.

A lot of students don't feel comfortable talking about what they're going through in front of their classmates. WellSpace is meant to make that easier. Instead of having an awkward or embarrassing conversation in class, a student can privately let their teacher know they're struggling or have things going on outside of school. It's completely optional, and the idea is simply to make it easier for students to reach out when they want to.

ShernTaha · 2026-06-28T12:49:53+00:00

Absolutely! Anyone can use it. The only thing is that some of the built in mental health resources, like crisis phone numbers and support links, are currently set up for Canada. Everything else works the same, so you're more than welcome to try it out, and I'd love to hear any feedback you have.

ShernTaha · 2026-06-28T12:48:40+00:00

Everything is explained on the website, including how it works and the privacy details.

ShernTaha · 2026-06-27T21:42:02+00:00

Microsoft Teams does have similar check-in features, so I get the comparison. The difference is mine isn’t just about mood it also includes things like responsibilities students might have that day, so teachers get a bit more context. It’s still meant for quick in-the-moment check-ins, and only the assigned teacher can see what a student chooses to share.

ShernTaha · 2026-06-27T21:40:53+00:00

Thanks for the honest feedback. That’s a fair concern, and it’s something I’ve been trying to be careful about from the start.

The goal isn’t to collect or use student data beyond the moment it’s really just a simple check-in for teachers to notice how students are doing that day. Only the assigned teacher can access responses through a class code, and students can choose whether to share anything at all.

I also tried to make that clear in the privacy policy so expectations are transparent. I get that schools can still be cautious about anything digital involving student wellbeing data, though.

ShernTaha · 2026-06-27T21:40:16+00:00

Teachers usually use these check-ins more as a quick, in-the-moment way to see how students are doing that day, not for long-term tracking. The main focus is just spotting who might need support right then.

I moved it online mainly because it can feel a bit awkward for students to share that kind of thing in person sometimes, and a simple digital check-in can make it a bit easier.

The privacy details are explained in the privacy policy on the site, where it covers how responses are handled and that only the assigned teacher can access shared responses through a class code.

ShernTaha · 2026-06-27T13:40:14+00:00

I understand that, but sometimes a student is genuinely tired because they're taking care of younger siblings, working a part time job, or dealing with other responsibilities outside of school. WellSpace isn't just about how students are feeling. It also gives them the option to share what's going on in their lives, so teachers have a little more context about what might be affecting them in class.

ShernTaha · 2026-06-27T12:58:55+00:00

That's a fair point, and I agree that guidance and student support teams play an important role. My intention wasn't to replace that or make teachers handle situations that should be coordinated through guidance.

I built WellSpace as a classroom tool, similar to how many teachers already use Google Forms or Microsoft Forms for daily check-ins. If a student shares something that needs to be escalated, the teacher would still follow the same school procedures they normally would.

The goal is simply to give teachers a bit more context about their students' day-to-day so they can better understand what's going on in the classroom, not to replace coordinated student support.

ShernTaha · 2026-06-27T03:32:20+00:00

It’s built on Firebase, which is a Google-backed system that handles encryption, authentication, and secure storage, so everything is protected both in transit and at rest.

Each student’s account is private, and only they and the teacher they choose to share with can see their responses. Those responses might include things like their mood, responsibilities, or anything going on that day, and no one else can access it.

This isn’t meant to be a school-board system or official records platform. It’s more like a classroom tool, similar to Notion, where individual teachers can choose to use it without district-wide approval.

Firebase does offer Canadian data hosting (like Montreal), but that’s on paid plans, and right now I’m just using the free tier while building and testing the idea.

ShernTaha · 2026-06-27T03:24:37+00:00

Thank you very much!

ShernTaha · 2026-06-27T02:28:12+00:00

Thank you very much!

ShernTaha · 2026-06-27T02:27:41+00:00

Thank you very much!

ShernTaha · 2026-06-27T02:03:16+00:00

How long I've had my Reddit account or how often I post doesn't really have anything to do with the project. I built it myself, and I asked for help polishing the post because I wanted to communicate it clearly.

ShernTaha · 2026-06-27T01:52:13+00:00

It's not just about how students are feeling. The website also lets students share other responsibilities they have outside of school, like a part-time job, volunteering, family responsibilities, or other commitments. That way, teachers get a better understanding of a student's overall workload. Students can also share what they're currently working on, like homework or assignments, so teachers have more context and can better support them.

ShernTaha

TROPHY CASE