Well Aware News

Find Mindfulness/Exercise Classes, Resources, and Tools at the Well Aware Toolbox Webpage

Taking care of our health should be a part of our daily lives. Well Aware has gathered community and medical plan resources to help you evaluate your current health status as well as tools to help you manage your health every day. Check out our calendar of classes including Mindfulness, Yoga, and more on the Well Aware Toolbox.

Try Happify! A science-based app to improve your mental health and well-being.

Well Aware: Mindful Mondays with Carrie Vieira

Mindful Mondays are weekly mindfulness classes open to all MCPS staff, retirees, and their families to practice gentle movement, breathwork, and meditation. They are held every Monday (except for holidays) via Zoom from 5:15-6:00 PM. Click here to join the mailing list or email Carrie Vieira at carrie_p_vieira@mcpsmd.org for more information.

Well Aware: Restorative Yoga & Yoga Nidra and Playful Flow & Morning Meditation with Jeanne Johnston

Yoga & Yoga Nidra happens on Tuesdays at 8PM.
Playful Flow & Morning Meditation happens on Fridays at 8AM.
To connect: https://meet.google.com/ytd-abyr-bsz
Or dial: (US) +1 240-587-5791 PIN: 353053561#

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Educator's Corner: Highlights

Julie Benner, Health, P. E., & Mindfulness Teacher
Sligo Middle School

How do you define mindfulness?

I define mindfulness by being in the moment and in the flow. Mindfulness takes one to a place of serenity and calm.

What kinds of activities and techniques do you incorporate into your mindfulness class curriculum? Have you observed any notable positive changes or impacts resulting from the implementation of these practices?

Some activities students do in mindfulness class are breathing techniques, thinking about their thinking and doing various types of meditations.

Students notice they feel differently after doing the meditations and like feeling calmer. Students are more aware in social situations to think about pausing before responding when they are feeling stress. Students know they have options before responding.

What are three practical recommendations for educators looking to integrate more mindfulness into their classroom practices?

My first recommendation is to start small at the beginning of class by having a check in with students with how they are feeling and what's on their minds.

Next, it helps to center students with a "mindful moment" on the board to calm students before starting a lesson. These moments take about 1 minute to do. My third recommendation is to play background music to calm students.

Outside of your teaching responsibilities, what pursuits or activities bring you the greatest sense of happiness and satisfaction?

Activities that bring me the greatest sense of happiness and satisfaction are being with family and getting outside in nature. There is something about being outside and active that centers me.

Is there anything else you would like included in your Spotlight?

Ms. Sarah Natale, Media Specialist at Sligo MS, is a certified yoga instructor. Ms. Natale leads yoga with my mindfulness classes a couple times each marking period. Mr. Isaiah Chambers and Mr. Moussa Cherif, guidance counselors at Sligo MS, do mindfulness activities to help students relax and calm down. Both counselors encourage breathing techniques to calm them before working through student's concerns. Mr. Chambers had a Mindfulness Staff Meeting for staff. Staff were able to pick their activities from yoga, to coloring and sport's activities to being part of a quiet reading room.