SPOTLIGHT JOY & WELLBEING
SPECIAL ISSUE | VOLUME 5 | ESCOLA CONCEPT
TREAT YOURSELF MAY 2020
WITH
VITAMIN
AND
JOY
&
YOUR HEALTH WELL-BEING
A month TO REMEMBER
Two months have gone by and we have truly poured our heart, souls, commitment and dedication to adapt to what we now can call the new normal. The month of May has welcomed reflection, thought, and a greater understanding of what our new routines represent and what change means at a global level. Amidst these thoughts, we are left to wonder: How were we affected? What kind of attitudes should remain when the isolation ends? How did I take care of myself and take care of others during this period? Inspired by the thinking and provocations shared by the keynote speakers who participated in the in.MIND and Morning Bites talk series, we are enthused to share this special edition of the newsletter with our main learnings. Enjoy your reading!
“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ― Maya Angelou
DIDO BALLA
mindfulness
What?
The mindfulness expert Dido Balla began his conversation in the in.MIND series, on May 21st, sharing how he realized he was at the beginning of an anxiety crisis as the isolation interrupted important plans he had made. Balla would attend the graduation of his sister in Paris and would travel to his native country, Cameroon. "Suddenly, I found myself consulting non-stop news on websites, wanting answers and anguished," shared Balla. "How could it happen to me? But then I thought: I can't judge myself, non-judgment is the basis of mindfulness!" As I already have a plan to deal with my negative emotions, it was not difficult to get better. So I decided to share my strategies through videos on Youtube ". Below, see a summary of the tips from Dido Balla, a passionate educator and entrepreneur, who graduated with a Master’s of Science in Secondary Education from the Johns Hopkins University.
HOW CAN WE BE MINDFUL DURING THESE TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY? 1. Do not be judgmental: accept the changes in your thoughts and behaviors. 2. Self-care: show up for yourself and recognize your inner voices! 3. Care of others: shift perspectives to focus on what matters. 4. Ground yourself: meditate, dance, listen to happy music, or whatever strategy keeps you positive 5. Have an "emotional emergency plan": practice making great decisions when you are not stressed so that you can make great decisions when you are stressed.
"PRACTICE MAKING GREAT DECISIONS WHEN YOU ARE NOT STRESSED
SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE GREAT DECISIONS WHEN YOU ARE STRESSED"
Pictures of Practice
These photos show mindfulness moments at the three Escola Concept campi. To be present and nonjudgmental is something that we want our learners to value and to take with them for the rest of their lives.
Inhale
the future
Exhale
the past
Yoga
is the
yenruoj
of the through the to the
self
A flower does not think of
competing to the flower next to it.
Time is a game played
beautifully by children.
ALL TOGETHER
FOR
WELL-BEING
When thinking about the conversations we hosted during our in.MIND and Morning Bites series with specialists from Brazil and around the globe, it is clear that through lines exist among the topics addressed. The value of purpose, passion, and play, the focus on the development social emotional well being, defining what sustainable education means, and linking all of this to a strong and relevant academic program are key steps for what it means to be an educator and parent during these times of transition. The next few pages highlight nuggets from each of the speakers.
"The
well-being
and sense of belonging
to
the school community come before the learning at this
"
moment. Marjo Kyllรถnen, Head of Education Development Services - Helsinki, Finland
“Beyond online classes, this is a time when we rediscover the value of encounters. The bonds that school creates among children, educators and families are precious.” Ana Teresa Gavião Mariotti, PhD in Psychology
"During play, children develop inner speech and externalize their thoughts."Â
Angela Salmon, Associate Professor at Florida International University in Miami
When I tried to understand what parents and teachers of innovative teenagers had done differently to encourage intrinsic motivation I found three essential ingredients: play, passion and purpose. Tony Wagner, Senior Researcher at Harvard School of Education, author of Creating Innovators
"A great learning from this pandemic is that we need to think about a bigger collective. Understanding that it doesn't matter if my son studies at Concept,
I need to care about the
quality of public education because this will mean that we have a more just, kind, and honest society, which truly cares about people and life. �
Adriana Ramos, post-doctorate in Education and researcher at GEPEM
The calming jar
The calming jar In 2019, the learner Henrique Baracho, who at the time was in grade 1 at Escola Concept São Paulo, took a responsible risk and participated in the optional, “Build your own startup” experience. This experience met for 16 total sessions held twice a week to identify a problem and create a product as a solution. This project was showcased at the Festival of Learning during a Glocal sustainability fair (think global act local). "I joined the class thinking about my future, to start a company and make money," he said. During an ideation exercise (or brainstorming) Paulo was brought to life, a fictitious persona that, “got so nervous that he would expel fire out of his ears.”. To calm Paulo down, Henrique thought about making a spray, similar to a perfume, but it didn't work. "It would take a very long time to do and it could get in the eye of a small child, who would end up in the hospital," the creative boy explained. So Henrique came up with an idea that was safer and more sustainable, made with recyclable materials:with water, glitter, and small toys inside, to distract and quiet the mind, while the sediments settle.
"I sold them all, the 40 I made, and I donated the money I received to a design thinking project that Lyna (the educator) helps. I just kept the one I made as a model," he said, proudly. And do you still use your calming jar? "Oh, I use it. I leave it by my side on my desk, I shake and look at it when I’m distracted during my online class."
2
interviews goals
2
interviews goals
In the previous newsletter, we addressed service learning projects that were developed during the April vacation period by some students who engaged in an optional proposal that the school offered. Some learners chose to engage in these projects to start working toward their service hours requirements that are part of the Middle School experience. Júlia Tavares, a grade 8 learner from São Paulo, created a podcast channel, Helpful(ish). Her first two interviews with José Bonigo, an infectologist from the Albert Eistein hospital in São Paulo and Isabel Coutinho, a Brazilian clinical psychologist living in New York, were thoughtfully developed and highly informative. Júlia started this project with a focus on, “the news I read in the media is made for adults and I am trying to answer doubts that other teenagers, like myself, have.” Julia’s serious approach and commitment are impressive! Two debut goals!
Click here to access the podcast.
accept
engage,
trust.
Isabel Vellutini, mother of Stella and Elena, found in our virtual village the strength to overcome the difficulties of the moment.
accept.
.egagne
Suddenly, Isabel's routine turned upside down. Her two daughters were at home in need of attention, her husband isolated in the bedroom, diagnosed with COVID-19, and virtual classes had just started. In WhatsApp groups, "not only those of mothers, but of the mindfulness and gym group," she says, "the messages spread insecurity and negativism. " Where could Isabel support herself to stay well and provide the structure her family needed? "At school and with the doctors who cared for Eduardo, who is also a doctor," she replies.
"Even when the decisions were short-term, they served to guide me. I perceived the school was open to listening and to understanding the needs of each family. Changing the monthly PELC meetings - Parent Educational Community meeting to weekly was, as Isabel says, a blessing. "At the PELC I always find a productive conversation, with a purpose, a content that helps me understand the school and also the moment we are going through. It would be incredible if more parents took advantage of this sharing space."
trust. Whenever possible, Isabel also watches the lives, in.MIND and Morning Bites. From these talks she highlights the words of Marjo Kyllönen , Head of Education Development Services, Helsinki, Finland. "It sounded to me like a message of acceptance and understanding, when I heard her saying, even on the day that schools were reopening in Finland, which is a country with less challenges than Brazil, they didn't have answers for everything. It will be like this anywhere." Today, when she reviews this period of virtual school, Isabel thinks that phase 1 has passed quickly.“Soon the girls were following the routines, they became autonomous, and the entire family was able to overcome the digital fluency barrier well.” So phase 2 arrived smoothly and the end of Eduardo's isolation."Having a vacation, for me, was the most difficult part. So I did what I know I can do at Concept: call the Principal to have a conversation, share how I felt about the school’s decision and after the call I realized the girls needed the break."
practice. A fan of the Habits of Mind and the way Concept works with the development of socio-emotional skills, one of the reasons that supported Isabel’s choice of enrolling the girls at the school. She shares that during this period of isolation the habits that have been the most relevant are Thinking interdependently, "because I needed a lot of help and connection with people, with doctors and with the school." Creating, Imagining and Innovating is another habit that has been relevant. To involve the children and make them leave the screen, "we are attacking the kitchen together, making levain, bread , cake, ravioli pasta‌ The other day, we played make-believe that we were in a restaurant with a special menu." What about the habit of patience? Isabel answers, "Well, it was necessary to exercise a lot of patience too ..."
Family yoga in quarantine
Family yoga in quarantine In the beginning of the quarantine, the Baldini family wanted to start a new activity together, in which the girls Daniela and Juliana could exercise at home, with materials that they already had. After a lot of research, they opted for yoga. In addition to moving and stretching the body, it aims to improve mental well being. "We saw that there were several videos on YouTube for beginners, so we began to practice for 35 minutes, and it was enough to notice that our behavior had changed. We were calmer in difficult situations, with more energy, and our family relationship had changed a lot, we became more united. Anyway, yoga has helped us in this difficult time of quarantine and we recommend the practice or any other physical activity at home, �say the sisters.
"WE WERE CALMER IN DIFFICULT SITUATIONS, WITH MORE ENERGY, AND OUR FAMILY RELATIONSHIP HAD CHANGED A LOT"
Keeping the balance Aline Melo Castro, mother of the Concept RibeirĂŁo community, shares how she keeps her balance at home.
Keeping the balance
The nurse Aline Melo Castro, mother of the learner João Marcelo, from Grade 6 of Concept Ribeirão Preto, considers herself privileged in the current scenario of the pandemic. With 17 years of experience in the healthcare sector, she recently left the frontline of hospitals and transitioned to a management position. That is why, in the last few months, she could remain isolated at home and dedicate herself to accompany her son's routine, in addition to intensifying her moments of meditation. According to Aline, meditation has been essential during quarantine. “To deal with emotions during this phase, I have been meditating. Meditation is helping me absurdly to reconnect with myself, with my values and my essence. I have been able to recognize my abilities and limitations," says Aline, who has also avoided watching a lot of news and newspapers. "I got a little disconnected from the outside world. João and I usually watch comedy shows together at night, it's a way to distract us. I would recommend that people do not absorb the external chaos, as the situation will resolve itself outside. What we need now is to keep the balance at home," she shares. Aline believes she is in a favorable position, especially when compared to friends who are working on the frontline of the pandemic. "For this very reason, I have valued the new routine, family meals, and reading, in short, everything we can do together every day and which we used to do only on weekends."
The pleasure of creating stories and helping at home
The pleasure of creating stories and helping at home Drawing and helping at home were two ways that Enrico Davis Riccetti, Grade 2 learner of Concept Ribeirão Preto, found to deal with boredom and idle periods at home. Proud of his productions, he has already reached the mark of more than 400 pages drawn during the isolation. "I have also written a story in English, about a very angry pirate. The story shares that people don't need to be angry because someday all of this will pass. People are going crazy inside the house, so this story is to help them,” he remarks. Another recent discovery by Enrico was that household chores can also be fun distractions. In the last weeks, Enrico took on the task of washing and peeling vegetables, watering the plants and contributing to the routine with his family."I think it's cool to be able to help at home, it even calms me down," says the 7-year-old boy. Enrico's mother, the psychopedagogue Renata Riccetti, who is a counselor at Concept Ribeirão Preto, has seen the positive results of this routine and advises: “Children are always looking for an activity. Involving them in simple tasks be it cleaning the house or preparing meals helps the child to feel involved and busy,” she shares. "I even put more plants inside the home so my children can water them."
“Children are always looking for an activity. Involving them in simple tasks, be it cleaning the house, or preparing meals, helps the child to feel more involved and busy.”
Feelings through art
Feelings through
t ar
The Grade 8 learner, Enzo França, from Salvador, made a drawing from which he was able to express his feelings. “After completing this work I realized that I had shown my hope for renewal. With the analogy of the caterpillar that goes through the cocoon to conquer freedom in the form of a butterfly, I showed that humanity experiences social isolation and feels trapped, however, I am sure that we will resume our journey, towards a new different reality.”
"I am sure that we will resume our journey, towards a new different reality"