Today was a CPD (Continuing Professional Development) Day.
The brief was "Healthy Minds."
And it was my turn to organise an event for our team of 10.
As Progress Coaches at a sixth form college, our role is pastoral and to support students through their educational journey between the ages of 16 and 19.
We each have responsibility for 180 students who we see twice a week in group sessions.
The rest of our time is spent supporting individual students on a 121 basis, liasing with home and generally problem-solving/troubleshooting.
Our role can be quite stressful and our students go through a very challenging time while they are with us.
I have students who are recently bereaved, have terminally ill parents, suffer from long term health problems and all the other difficulties modern life can throw at them.
I was interested to see how meditation could help.
With this in mind I contacted the local Buddhist Centre and asked if they could arrange a talk and series of Guided Meditations to give us a taste of what meditation could offer.
My colleagues were happy to investigate and so we spent a relaxing session at The Buddhist Centre near Sefton Park, followed by a meal together at a lovely Gastro Pub in Lark Lane.
A colleague and I are now planning to set up weekly meditation sessions for students in September. I will let you know how we got on.
I wore:
Cardigan - Principles
Black Trousers - Primark
T-Shirt - Zara
Shoes - Clarks
Sounds like it will be very worth while for the students too.
ReplyDeleteX x
It was absolutely fascinating.
DeleteGreat idea. I've actually booked myself onto a class at the Sefton Park Buddhist centre in a couple of weeks time, and I actually took my class there last year for a visit - they loved it! I love meditating but can never manage it at home.
ReplyDeleteWow - I am sure you will have a great day. I was thinking about goig for a day or half day workshop but I am busy on the times they listed.
DeleteHow interesting... i've never been to anything Buddhist. I don't think I have ever meditated, at least consciously.
ReplyDeleteJane: That's a lot of students! My son meditates and I think he learned at school.
ReplyDeleteI'll be very curious to see how the students' meditations might go. Will they do it in a group? Will they have a leader? BTW, your red top looks wonderful
ReplyDeleteHi Terri,
DeleteOne of my colleagues has taught meditation before. We plan to run a series of Guided Meditations for the students. Although we visited the Buddhist Centre the ones we plan to use will have no belief system.
I think your work sounds so interesting. As far as I know there isn't anything like that at our schools here. We have a 15yo Granddaughter and I imagine at times something like this would be helpful. Meanwhile she is still quite open and willing to discuss things here with her Grandpa and I so we do the best we can to give her an outlet other than parents.
ReplyDeleteDarla