We are now in the third year of teaching Mindfulness at Simon Marks. Some of you may know about Zac Newman of HaMakom who comes to teach Mindfulness to Years 3-6. Zac is a meditation teacher who has been teaching mindfulness in schools since 2013. It seems pupils had a lot of psychological and emotional benefit from this. We need to raise £2000 for him to be able to return and continue this teaching throughout the coming school year.
Here's what Zac has said about his experience teaching in Simon Marks this past year.
“I have hugely enjoyed teaching mindfulness at Simon Marks this year. I continue to be amazed and delighted by the pupils, and their warmth, maturity, and intuitive understanding of the benefits of learning how to rest and refresh their bodies and minds. It is a pleasure and privilege to share quiet, peaceful moments with the pupils.
One of my favourite moments in each session is when I invite pupils to share stories of how they are finding mindfulness to be helpful in their own lives. Pupils’ responses are insightful and creative. They adapt the practices we learn together to fit their particular circumstances. They find ingenious ways of bringing the exercises and strategies from the classroom out into their worlds: to the classroom, playground, friendships, at home, in extra-curricular activities and beyond. The abundance and richness of the responses convinces me that they are learning something of immediate and significant value, something which is making a difference for many. I very much hope we will be able to continue this work together.”
Here's what Ms Metin said about the first round of mindfulness teaching:
"HaMakom has had tremendous impact on the emotional wellbeing of our pupils. They are more aware of their surroundings and more able to talk about mindfulness strategies. It's great to observe young people undergoing mindful choices and vocalising their feelings more readily."
Here's what some pupils have said about their experience of mindfulness teaching:
Ben (Year 4): 'I think mindfulness really helps with tough situations. It calms me down. I have really enjoyed the sessions'.
Hannah (Year 4): 'I found the sessions really comforting. Sometimes when I think about school I think about mindfulness'.
Ivy (Year 4): "Mindfulness is very relaxing. I learnt how to calm down when I'm mad. I don't put my hand up a lot because I like letting it sink into my head."
Iosma (Year 3): "Chest and tummy breathing I used when my brothers annoyed me."
Zelda (Year 3): "I use the snowball to help me not worry so much."
Barak (Year 3): "When you have a bubble it helps me get better when I'm angry."
Amen-ra (Year 3): "I've learnt chest and tummy breathing for when I'm stressed out."
What is Mindfulness?
A Practice of Resting in Awareness
Mindfulness gives pupils specific and concrete practices for stepping back from the busy-ness of everyday activity and the chatter of the mind. This offers greater space, clarity and time within, which in turn increases the opportunity for making positive, enriching choices.
A Training in Attention
Mindfulness trains us to direct our attention to whatever is happening in the present moment: our breathing, other physical sensations, thoughts, emotions, or even everyday activities like walking and eating. This awareness means we can respond more skilfully to whatever the present moment gives to us. It also means we can find regions of stability and support in our experience, and consciously turn towards these, even as other parts of experience are challenging and changing.