As part of a continuing pilot program at Woodland School, guidance counselor Diane Langworthy took advantage of recent good weather to conduct an outdoor mindfulness session focused on slowing down and taking note of Mother Earth.
“We recently celebrated Earth Day,” Langworthy told a gathering of kindergartners and first graders sitting criss-cross, applesauce on the school’s basketball court. “Let’s close our eyes and take a moment to think about what it means to take care of our earth.”
Mindfulness, as defined by Merriam Webster, is “the practice of maintaining a nonjudgmental state of heightened or complete awareness of one’s thoughts, emotions, or experiences on a moment-to-moment basis; also : such a state of awareness.” It is something that Langworthy finds “very beneficial” and personally practices every day.
“Many school districts around the world have mindfulness programs,” she says. “It is also widely used in the business community and in medical settings.”
Through Langworthy’s efforts this year with K-5 students at Woodland, the Warren Township School District is exploring opportunities to increase mindful practices in each of its five schools.
(above) Kindergartners Jackson Plager and Devin Dave are eager and willing participants
in an outdoor mindfulness session at Woodland School held on May 17.
(above) Kindergartner Abigail Ruffner participates in an outdoor mindfulness session on May 17 at Woodland School.
