02/21/2020
Waywayseecappo School - Park West School Division
Waywayseecappo, MB
Session 1 - G4-8 - Junior Art Of Focus / Mindfulness
Session 2 - K-3 - Primary Art Of Focus
Session 3 - G4-8 - Individual Leadership -Growth & Success and acceptance of THE FOCUS FEATHER
An outstanding day in this school community that started with an abundance of energetic welcome(s) from staff... The first greeter was the 72 year old maintenance man who greeted us at 7am to let us into the school... Ray (Ray-Ray or Sugar-Ray) reminded me of a well known and respected/appreciated 'santa' in the community/school. The second greeter was the gym teacher - TIM...! Wow, what a great energy to start a new day with folks like him... also shortly afterwards the energetic and positive anticipation from staff continued... Thank you Lisa, Jen and principal Troy as the hospitality, encouragement and support is acknowledged and appreciated...!
The students were excellent... there were a couple focus challenges but that was also part of the highlights of the day because as we challenged those few individuals during the session(s), the entire school was able to see that FOCUS is possible even for those who appear to be challenged with it in the moment... with a caring approach and special request for those individuals to 'try harder', we observed just that...! Additionally stories over the lunch our came forward regarding students that normally have difficulty focusing or being mindful... were immediately showing a new/refreshed desire to put their freshly energized focus 'power' into ACTION in the classroom. It was explained to the students/school that its not just the teachers that can motivate the class... the students can motivate the other students (and teachers...........) when engaging their focus and SHOWING others it's possible... Furthermore it was clarified that EVERY student deserves to be in a learning environment where there are no unnecessary lack of focus interruptions as it makes it more difficult for others to focus in the face of a distraction from the class combined focus vibration (growth potential).
At the end of the 3rd session it was heartwarming to hear almost everyone in the room acknowledge THE FOCUS FEATHER including coming forward to accept it within themselves and their school community of learning. Furthermore, when speaking to principal Troy and other teachers about the importance of the FOLLOW UP... leadership agreed it was important to put up reminders, posters, slides and to continue initiatives every-day to fuel and foster a better, faster, stronger school community of FOCUS / MINDFULNESS...!
Lastly, the G 6-7-8 students really stepped up to show their appreciation by almost insisting to help us pack up the entire production including pushing road cases and carrying video truss pieces out to the front doors as they helped to load right up to departure time... Unique neighbourly friendships were created today. Special thanks Waywayseecappo for welcoming us with open arms and for your willingness to grow, succeed and be MINDFUL together as a school community... STUDENTS... and....... STAFF. the best way to show your students the value of focus/mindfulness/growth... is to lead by example as teachers/leaders/elders.
With respect - Meegwetch!
