Home Educational insightsWellness at MacLachlan College

Wellness at MacLachlan College

Posted: 06 November 2019

IDEALS

Discoveries

Curriculum area

Age range

Whole school

Overview

Over the past four years, MacLachlan College has been developing its initiatives to promote wellbeing among all members of the school community, including students, staff and parents. This began with a pilot project to assess the impact of practicing mindfulness in classes. This involved select teachers in each division of the school leading mindfulness practices on the themes of breathing, concentration, emotion, and heartfulness. From there, a “Mindful Minute” was introduced during morning announcements and homeroom teachers from KDG to grade 8 practiced mindfulness with their students at least once per day using an 8-week curriculum created for MacLachlan College by “Wake Up Kate”. A Wellness Committee was established, who planned a Wellness Fair and “Lunch & Learn” for staff. The following year, MacLachlan College hosted its first Wellness Week for students with subsequent Wellness Weeks including activities for parents.

Planning

MacLachlan College’s Wellness Lead teacher, Victoria Dawn, is Chair of the Wellness Committee, a group of dedicated staff responsible for planning the school’s Wellness Week each year. This begins at the end of the previous academic year, with research being conducted by committee members over the summer and contacts being made with potential speakers for workshops and organizations for the Wellness Fair. The committee meets at the beginning of the new academic year to feedback and finalize plans.

Activity

This year’s Wellness Week began with a focus on staff wellness with a yoghurt parfait bar for breakfast and a workshop on self-care from Laura Hughes. A registered massage therapist was also arranged to provide massages for staff that day. Staff were introduced to a staff wellness initiative in which they can set themselves up to three monthly goals (one each in the area of mental, physical and nutritional health), for the chance to earn house points and the title of “Wellness Warrior”.

For students, the committee organized a daily popcorn sale at morning recess as an example of a healthy snack. Tuesday was Physical Health day, in which all students had the opportunity to participate in a “Just Dance” activity at lunch recess. Students in the Upper School also had a presentation from the president of the Wee Braveheart Foundation during assembly. MacLachlan College raised over $1,500 for this charity, who make care packages for patients undergoing cancer treatment in Ontario, through popcorn sales, donations from the family yoga session, and casual dress day. Wednesday was Mental Health Day for which the committee organized a yoga instructor to lead a family yoga session after school. All students were able to participate in a “Making a Healthy Snack” workshop on Thursday’s Nutritional Health Day. In the Lower School, students covered a rice cake with seed butter or yoghurt and decorated them with fruit. In the Upper School, students created energy balls. The week culminated in Wellness Day, in which students were invited to come to school in athletic wear. In the morning, the Lower School students moved through a series of workshops prepared by the Lower School teachers. The Wellness Committee had also organized a yoga instructor to lead one of the sessions. In the afternoon the Upper School participated in a variety of activities organized by the Wellness Committee, including a “Weed Out the Risk” presentation by MADD Canada, a talk on resiliency and self-care by mental health first aider, Nick Patrella, a workshop on Mindful Self Compassion by Eileen Beltzner, circuit training by FitBody, and a Wellness Fair. During the Wellness Fair, students took part in a short activity provided by each participant, including making a healthy trail mix, sampling healthier alternatives to their regular food choices, a guided visualization, hockey shoot out, and posture check. The Wellness Fair was open to all members of the MacLachlan community.

Challenges

One of the major challenges was the Upper School students acknowledging their own wellbeing as a priority and participating in the activities provided during Wellness Week. A correlation has also been identified between age of students and their participation in mindfulness practices; older students have commented on their reluctance to participate as they do not see the immediate benefits. However, in the main, students who choose not to practice themselves are respectful by remaining still and quiet during practices, so as not to disrupt others. Currently, to overcome this challenge, all students from KDG to grade 9 are receiving a 20-minute mindfulness class each 6-day cycle by a teacher trained in the Mindful Schools Curriculum in order to provide greater emphasis on why we practice mindfulness at MacLachlan College and how it can act as a valuable tool in their everyday lives. Homeroom teachers from KDG to grade 6 also participate in these classes to establish their own practice so they can authentically lead practices with their students in between mindfulness classes.

Impact

More research is surfacing on the impact of positive mental health on academic achievement, effective life skills, and overall wellbeing for all students. Additionally, mental health concerns, particularly those relating to children, are on the rise. Thus, promoting a culture of positive psychology and supporting our students, staff and parents to be well, mentally, physically and emotionally is paramount.

Students are providing regular feedback on how they are implementing the wellness strategies they have been taught in their everyday lives. For example, gratitude journaling to improve their sense of happiness and wellbeing, using mindful listening to calm their mind when they are struggling to fall asleep, and taking mindful breaths when they are finding it challenging to focus in class or experiencing a difficult emotion.

Long term outcomes

Future plans will see further wellness initiatives planned by the Wellness Committee, including a “Stress-Less” week before mid-year examinations and nutrition education before Ramadan, when a number of our students fast, with input from a student driven Wellness Council. In addition, more students will be trained to become leaders in mindfulness, leading practices during the “Mindful Minute” and assemblies.

Images of staff working towards or achieving their wellness goals will be shown in assembly to students as positive role models and inspiration, along with recognising student achievements.

Wellness for staff continues with a bi-monthly after school yoga session and a bi-weekly run club.

Implementation of an intermediate Wellness program, in which students explore behaviours that research suggests will support their health and happiness and foster positive connections with other people. In addition to mindfulness, students’ self-awareness will be further developed by actively exploring their character strengths, what drives them, and who they want to be in the world.

Students have access to a variety of clubs to support their wellbeing, including run club for Upper School students, mindfulness clubs for grade 4 and above, Lower School yoga clubs, and wellness club.

Advice

Author: Victoria Dawn, Wellness Lead, MacLachlan College

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