Twenty-five local middle school students recently added social-emotional skills to their mindfulness tool belts during a Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Honors Program event.
Sherri Spina, a social-emotional learning/mindfulness consultant, taught students strategies to provide balance, peace and calm to their day.
“The techniques learned will help improve students’ overall mental and physical well-being,” Honors Program Coordinator Deborah Schoff said. “It was a hands-on, fun-filled day, as students made, practiced and took away many tools and strategies they could put into practice each day.”
The “Health & Happiness Through Mindfulness & SEL” Honors Program event took place on Thursday, Oct. 24, at the Herkimer BOCES Gateway Center. Middle school students from Central Valley, Dolgeville, Frankfort-Schuyler, Herkimer, Little Falls, Poland and West Canada Valley participated in the event.
The Herkimer BOCES Honors Program is open to students in Herkimer BOCES component school districts and is designed to support the potential of students in grades 3-12 who have above average interests and abilities in a particular area. Programs allow for interaction with like-minded peers. Students learn by engaging in educational activities with presenters who are noted in their field. Exploration and programs provide for different learning styles and include topics in the arts and sciences as well as literature and history. Ongoing evaluation of all programs by teachers and students assures their relevance and quality.
