New Leaf has recently launched a mindfulness-based curriculum toolkit aimed to support schools during the pandemic and beyond, and we’re excited to share more details with you!
The last year has created isolation, stress and the need to adapt. It’s not been easy. Like so many, New Leaf has been challenged to re-imagine how we can continue to engage youth through our work when we cannot be with them in person.
An especially huge toll has been felt in schools both by students and staff. Health and safety concerns have increased. Lack of social connectivity is having an impact. Outlets that may have been depended on for stress relief, like going to the gym or getting together with friends, are severely limited.
After consulting with educators and carrying out a survey with 100+ young people, we learned:
- Stress levels are very high
- Educators and young people want resources for coping with stress & overwhelm
- Tools like exercise videos, meditation recordings and art activities were listed as priorities
So, what is New Leaf doing?
Building on what we’ve learned from our in-person work with youth, teachers and youth workers over close to 14 years, we’ve built a new support system for schools – one that can have a big impact not only during the pandemic, but will continue to be valuable in the years to come.
Supporting schools to do it for themselves.
Our new curriculum toolkit equips schools to care for the wellbeing of teachers and students in easy-to-use and creative ways.
The toolkit is accessible on our online learning platform and is built around New Leaf’s mindfulness-based, trauma-informed methodology, using what we call MBA (Movement, Breath and Awareness) practices.
We provide 7 weekly lessons with short mindful movement videos, audio meditations, art activities, and journaling prompts. Each activity requires only about 3-15 minutes to complete, so can be easily integrated into the school day, either virtually or in person.
Most importantly, while we’re providing educators with what they need to integrate MBA practices into their classrooms, we’re not leaving them to do it on their own! Our hands-on support includes an initial orientation call, and 1-1 coaching sessions as needed to assist with introducing the practices in an accessible way to students.
When can your school get access?
We’re currently piloting the curriculum toolkit with our current Toronto District School Board partners. Applications from new partners will be considered for April and September 2021. Visit this link to find out more and to apply.