September 2019 Newsletter

September - Welcome Back to School!
Is your classroom ready for Peace of Mind? We've been hard at work on new resources to support educators for the upcoming school year.
Click below to find out more:
New Resources
School Spotlight
In the News
Celebrations & Shoutouts
Upcoming Events

Tyaja Uses the THiNK Test, our fourth storybook by Linda Ryden, is about the power of words and the critical importance of thinking before we speak. Oren Jay Sofer, mindfulness teacher and author of Say What You Mean: A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent Communication, said this about Tyaja: “In this simple and clear story, Linda Ryden offers valuable lessons for our children to bring more clarity, care and thoughtfulness to the power of words.” We could all use a little more mindful speaking in the world.Big thanks to Adam Shapiro of AS PR for his skillful pro-bono help in getting the word out about Tyaja.

The Peace of Mind Curriculum for Grades 4 and 5 is here! A full-year of weekly mindfulness-based SEL and Conflict Resolution for older elementary students, including new lessons on using mindfulness to address bullying, stereotypes and implicit bias along with new skits and stories. This curriculum works as an introduction for students new to Peace of Mind and as a continuation for students who have already had the Peace of Mind Core Curriculum for Grades 3-5. Can’t wait to share it with you! You can find it here. Shout out to Jodi Ferrier and Schwa Design for another beautiful curriculum design!

Games and Flashcards
Our new Peace of Mind Mindfulness Flashcards are great reminders for kids of how they can help themselves manage big emotions.

Our new Conflict C.A.T Game is a fun role play card game for 2-8 payers that helps kids practice their conflict resolution skills so that they’ll be ready when needed!

DCPS’ newest Middle School, Ida B. Wells, is opening under the leadership of Principal Megan Vroman this Fall. Wells will be welcoming sixth graders this year and expanding over the next two years to include 7th and then 8th grade students from Brightwood, La-Salle Backus, Takoma, and Whittier Education Campuses. We’re so excited that Peace of Mind will be a cornerstone of the Wells community, and the wonderful Wells staff will be testing the first version of the new Peace of Mind Core Curriculum for Grade 6 with their students this year. Thanks to Principal Megan Vroman and her staff and Dr. William Blake, Director of SEL for DCPS, who have participated in our working group this summer. We are looking forward to learning with you and supporting the Wells community!

Linda and Jackie were on News 4 Your Sunday recently:

Peace of Mind School Community: We estimate that Peace of Mind will reach over 3,000 students in the DC metro area this school year through public, public charter and independent schools - and we’re currently taking a census to find out how many children Peace of Mind is reaching outside of the DC area. Are you teaching Peace of Mind? Please let us know! Your feedback helps us with funding and programs. Thank you!!

New FFC Schools: The Fund for the Future of our Children has awarded three grants to these Title I schools to purchase their first Peace of Mind materials. Welcome to Rose Hill Elementary in Alexandria, Reese Jeffries Elementary in Front Royal VA and Fowler Elementary in Wichita Falls Texas. Wonderful!

Partnerships: We’re excited about a new partnership with American University Professor Gemma Puglisi and students in her Public Relations Portfolio class this Fall. More to come!

Gratitude: Big shout out of thanks to our Board of Directors and our Advisors - we really couldn’t do this without you!

Wednesday 9/25/19 - Community of Practice Gathering, 3:45 pm at Mann ES
Wednesday 10/16/19 - Parent Mindfulness Evening 6 pm at Ida B. Wells MS
Sunday, 11/3/19 - PoM presents a workshop at the Collaborative for Spirituality in Education Conference, Columbia University in NYC.