“In 2014, our yoga in school pilot was brought together by the Sound Foundation and hosted by West Tisbury School. Yoga teachers shared a 6-week, 18 classes K-8 program reaching 300 students. And in 2020, we are serving over 1,000 students in several schools, before and after school and summer programs. There is amazing opportunity to expand inclusivity and compassionate community.
— Jen DeLorenzo, participating Yoga Teacher WTS Pilot Program”
MIDDLE SCHOOLERS ARE SO EFFICIENT. WE NEED TO WAIT 3 MINUTES FOR THE PREVIOUS CLASS TO FINISH UP? NO PROBLEM, WE’LL HANG HERE, SIT TALL AND BREATHE DEEPLY
Our projects encourage kids to come up with ideas and implement action plans, milestone reviews and reflection processes. Curriculum is developed to benefit all learning styles, individual and group needs; consistent with Shape America,Martha’s Vineyard MA public school curriculum, and international educational collaboration S.E.E. And, as a growing global vocation our mentorship program offers young people experience towards a sustainable, compassionate career path.
social, emotional and ethical learning and living in wellness
HOW TO BALANCE WITH POISE AND KINDNESS? WORK TOGETHER TO REFRESH, STRENGTHEN AND FOCUS
WARRIORS OF LOVE, by the children of martha’s vineyard
READ ALOUD MOVE TOGETHER - TRY IT OUT!
DOWNload EBOOK :: warriors of love
During our weekly practice, some children wondered if they could author and illustrate their own book of practices to help steady the mind, power the breath and move the body. Kid to kid.
This book is dedicated to the wisdom, compassion, and curiosity of children. Let’s practice together! What makes your heart sing?
“About the breath. I felt myself calm down, I’ve never felt that kind of melting, I move all the time it’s really hard for me to be still.
That’s nice, really nice.
”
From personalized mindfulness practices with Special Education teacher Kiely and M.
An Angry Brain, how to calm it
We were working with a neuro science/art piece to understand the brain( www.gregadunn.com). M. wanted to depict anger moving through the brain for our next lesson and then teach how to calm it.
SECOND GRADERS MIX HIGH ENERGY AND TIRED ENERGY TO BALANCE THEIR MIND, BODY AND GET READY FOR MATH
No matter big or small, we practice with the power of intention and the breatH. Together we enrich, expand and nourish our personal tools for wellness.
Quiet time at Slough Farm – we are all connected
Empowering students and educators to create positive, peaceful, productive classrooms that support exceptional learning and a lifetime of health and wellness.
“You are leading the way into a new frontier (as far as I can tell)...”
“My professional goals:
To focus on student’s attitudes and self-awareness by applying mindfulness techniques for a calmer, positive learning atmosphere.
To empower all students to build understanding with computing, applications, the internet, big data and artificial intelligence, the essential building blocks of future industry. To inspire envisioning/thinking of concepts and principles of computer science to foster confidence and competence to be influencers of that environment, not merely consumers of it.
This is a self-disciplinary practice that is supported by student, peer communication, suggestion, and revision to both curriculum design and instructional methods.”
100%
of people have the ability to demonstrate their individualized brilliance, in our community and out into the world.
50%
of families in our community hold its relative proportion of need: financial, social assistance, wellness and diversity integration.
100%
of people create our diverse, culturally enriched community. We are 3.3% African American, 1.2% Asian, 10.3% Hispanic, 1.8% Native American, 78.7% White, .2% Native Hawaii/Pacific Islander, 4.5%Multi-Race.
2018 socioeconomic demographics information MVRHS school district, state info
“Hundreds of children and adults we have surveyed on Martha’s Vineyard indicate 1.calm, 2.focus and 3.joy as their TOP BENEFIT noticed after a school year of weekly/bi-weely practices. Hundreds of children surveyed indicate TOP NEED for more mindfulness, yoga and/or aerial classes to 1.relax, 2. balance emotions and 3. strengthen. And most children who utilize aerial arts find relief of discomfort and increase of joy as quickly as 10 -20 breaths.”
The practices work and students are benefiting. We have seen a significant improvement in mental and physical health for all participating community members. Our children and adults are reporting higher levels of calm, better focus, and an abundance of aspirations towards living in wellness the more they practice. Got a minute? Take some deep breaths…
PROJECT: YOGA SUMMER CAMP. WTS Middle School 2017
When we started Yoga Camp in 2017, West Tisbury middle school yoga students designed, mapped out and implemented their community service plan. To date, it is the only summer camp on island that was designed by young people. They presented their plan through the processes of approvals: principal review/oK, superintendent and school committee review/oK. Yoga Camp provides access to advocacy, community engagement and leadership among peers. And as a living practice and extension of school, our camp cultivates a grounding comfort to transition children out of school into summer, and also end of summer before the next school year begins.
Kindergartners are great teachers of sitting tall and breathing deeply. Grammar school students are flexible with their knowledge and love to teach what they know with care and attention to detail. Teenagers are acutely aware of what it feels like to deal with physical, social, and emotional growth and change; let them help you navigate through change. Middle schoolers and teenagers can also earn community service credits for teaching in school, in addition to providing wellness tools for their families.
Wellness grows like wildflowers. When we breathe with awareness, and set our minds to compassionate work – every one benefits, and equanimity grows. We accept everyone regardless of skill level and size. And we’ll teach you all the skills you need to know to be the best You.
WELLNESS RECIPE: TEAMWORK, BALANCE, FOCUS, COMMUNICATION