The school day begins with yoga and meditation for many students at McKitrick Community School.聽
Led by the school counsellor Lisa Zanyk, students may choose to begin the transition to learning with basic yoga postures and mindfulness meditation.聽
Up to 20 students gather each morning by 8:30 a.m. to participate in the program, which is called Quiet Spaces. Often students arrive by 8:20 a.m., and聽when the mats are full students聽may have to wait until the next morning to participate.
No one is required to attend the program, but students are finding聽that greeting their first class聽with peacefulness and joyful calm makes the whole day go better.
These practices of yoga, meditation, and aromatherapy are part of a mindfulness curriculum that is drawn from many sources, such as the Mindup program, says Zanyk.
It also draws on other character development and emotional regulation programs, stressing such virtues as caring and kindness.
The program is also offered two afternoons a week to staff, who are learning these techniques and attitudes and practising them with their students.聽The morning student program also runs hand in hand with McKitrick's nutrition program, so students who may not have eaten at home can learn better.聽
One early indication of the success of the program is that students choose to be there, and come back often.
