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Mindfulness Training Is Growing In Park City's Schools

pcef4kids.org

One of the many programs funded through the Park City Education Foundation is the Mindfulness training. The pilot program is optional and officials say its catching on. Melissa Allison has more:
 
Thirteen teachers, three councilors and countless children have gone through the program. Ecker Hill Middle School Counselor and Mindfulness Program Manager Johnah Russos said even the kids are getting in on the action.

“The kids are asking for it and its just shown to be so beneficial for the kids," Russos said. "It’s a skill just like reading, its managing their emotions and how to do that and its just, its so exciting to see the kids utilize it.”

Depending on a student’s list of teachers, they could go through the practice a handful of times each day.

Russos said students grow the most when more than one teacher uses the program.

“We would love to see all of our teachers trained," Russos said. "But its not something you can force on a teacher either. So, I think they’re going to see, and they’re going to see how kids are responding to it that they’re going to want the training.”

Before the teachers can share the program with the students however, they must first integrate it into their own lives.

“The first six week training is all about putting mindfulness in your own life and not even talking about how to teach it to kids," Russos said. "And so, teachers, it really is life changing for so many of us and to have our consultants actually work with us as teachers and guide us through mindfulness ourselves, its just really been beneficial.”

There are two separate trainings – six and eight weeks which take place online but there are also local resources for the teachers. Teachers also have access to videos and lesson plans that last about five to ten minutes.

“Its shown to be super exciting for the kids," Russos said. "The kids really love it, it’s a way to regulate emotion and that’s something that we can all benefit from.”

The program can now be found at McPolin and Trailside Elementary and Ecker Hill Middle School.

I’m Melissa Allison, KPCW News.