November was a busy month but we took some time amidst report cards and meetings to focus on mindfulness and personal well-being. Staff participated in a Mindfulness Bingo Challenge throughout the month and submitted their cards for a prize draw. Prizes included mindfulness colouring books, inspiring novels, healthy cookbooks, and a calming lavender plant, which were awarded to three lucky participants. Prize Draw Winners: Paige Arrafi – Ecole Pauline Johnson Honourable mention goes out to Leslie Buchanan for her positive participation and great attitude! There was lots of great feedback from staff about the bingo challenge, and people seemed to take this challenge as an opportunity to try new exercises and explore meditation and mindful practices. Yasuko Otsuka was particularly adventurous when she tried free diving for the first time in order to check off her “Try a new exercise for 30 mins” square. We also brought in guest speaker James Floman for a staff presentation. James is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of British Columbia studying how contemplative practices influence self-regulation, compassion, and pro-social behaviour in teachers. Participants practiced mindful breathing and movement exercises, and also learned about the research connections between teacher mindfulness and the positive impact it can have on our students. We want to thank everyone who participated in our wellness initiatives this past month. We are excited to continue exploring our mindful practices after the holiday break!
Amanda Randt – Hollyburn Elementary
Yaskuo Otsuka – International Department
