The Marblehead Rotary Club is donating $16,000 to bring a new mindfulness program to the Brown and Glover elementary schools, aimed at giving younger students tools to manage stress, practice kindness and build emotional resilience.
Starting in October, mindfulness educator Jean Skaane will “guide our youngest learners (grades K through 3) in weekly lessons focused on core skills of self-awareness, purpose, empathy, collaboration, agency and adaptability, which complement their learning through our Wayfinder curriculum,” according to Assistant Superintendent Julia Ferreira. “Data will be collected to measure the impact of the SEL (social emotional learning) lessons and in-person support.”
The Rotary Club previously supported Inner Explorer, a mindfulness program available in the schools for four years. Rotarian Nancy Gwin said usage was relatively low because the program was not part of the required curriculum.
That prompted Rotary members to rethink how they could make a greater impact.
The goal, Gwinn said, is to help children develop practical tools they can use to navigate stress and challenges throughout their lives, starting when they are young and building on those skills as they move through the school system.
Rotarians also plan to participate directly, visiting schools to read books to students that reinforce themes such as kindness and goodness.
The $16,000 commitment is supported in part by proceeds from the club’s annual 5K road race, scheduled this year for Nov. 1. The race begins and ends at Crocker Park at 11 a.m.
About 200 runners participated last year, when the event raised approximately $50,000 before expenses. Gwinn said proceeds allow Rotary to support programs such as the new mindfulness initiative.
Registration for this year’s race is open. Scan the QR code above or visit marbleheadrotary.com/Stories/scan-to-register.
