The Bronxville Promise is about educating the entire student and that includes not just the 3 Rs but skills for leading balanced, healthy, productive lives in a fast-paced world. Foundation grants focused on civil discourse, belonging, and health and wellness equip our students to navigate challenges and become effective problem solvers. The Foundation has funded several key wellness programs throughout the District.
Sensory Pathway
The Sensory Pathway is regularly used and enjoyed by students of all ages at the Bronxville School. The 80’ path of colorful decals is laid out by design on the floor and wall of a 40’ portion of a hallway. The path gives students an opportunity to self regulate through a visually appealing, safe, non-threatening, stimulating, and fun motor experience. The students visually focus, conceive, plan, and execute a skilled, non-habitual set of motor acts in the correct sequence from start to finish. Once finished, the students are better prepared for focused learning in the classroom.
Meddy Teddys & Mindfulness Tools
A Foundation grant funded the initial training for our school psychologists that led to the development of the C.A.R.E. program (Community, Awareness, Relationships, and Empathy). As part of the C.A.R.E. wellness program in the Elementary School, Foundation grants have also funded Meddy Teddys and other mindfulness tools for emotional regulation and distress tolerance in the classroom. Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we are doing, and not be overly reactive or overwhelmed by what is going on around us.
Mental Health First Aid Training
With mental health struggles in teens rising, the Foundation has awarded grants to provide Mental Health First Aid training to faculty in both the Middle School and High School. Through these grants, staff members will become more knowledgeable about identifying students who are in crisis (or close to being in crisis) and direct them to the correct support staff members. These grants will also help faculty to give students the tools to understand mental health and substance use disorders, destigmatize these disorders, and support their peers and seek adult, professional help for themselves or their peers when necessary.
The Playground Peace Path
Elementary School students will resolve challenging issues during recess and reach resolutions by installing a Playground Peace Path, courtesy of a Foundation grant. Engaged in a project-based learning experience, first graders collaboratively designed the Peace Path for the school’s playground to address conflicts peacefully, literally step by step. Students walk the Peace Path with their peers, following prompts that include clarifying questions, active listening, and suggestions for overcoming their difficulties. The first grade classes plan to incorporate the Peace Path into their classrooms as well.
Anti-Bullying PSAs
Through Foundation grants, fourth and fifth graders have created anti-bullying public service announcements and premiered their videos before an audience of peers and teachers. Using professional-quality camera equipment, the students took on the roles of writers, directors, producers and actors under the guidance of Mike Feurstein, a filmmaker, educator and Don't Wait to Unmake a Bully program creator. Fourth graders participated in the Don't Wait to Unmake a Bully project, while fifth graders participated in the Don't Wait to Unmake the Mediasphere, which focused on issued around social media.
The fourth graders' work with the Don't Wait project was supported through a grant from the Foundation in 2018. Due to the program's success with the fourth graders, it was expanded to include the fifth graders in 2019. Since then, the school has continued this important work, funding it through the school's budget. The program reinforces the important messages of standing up for yourself, standing up for others, and apologizing when you make a mistake. Creating these meaningful PSAs is an innovative way to engage students in antibullying conversations.
Civil Discourse & Curriculum for Belonging
Through our Bronxville Promise, the District has committed to developing lessons that teach students the skills of civil discourse and how to respectfully disagree on topics that matter. This grant funds curriculum work for interested Middle and High School teachers to create these opportunities for students. Participating teachers review the process around civil discourse, engage in curriculum writing, workshop ideas and texts with peers, and try out the lesson with peers and obtain feedback.
In addition, the Middle School is working to revise the Advisory curriculum to include lessons on belonging, developing an inclusive school community, and anti-bullying. Through a Foundation grant, faculty members are writing curriculum focused on creating an inclusive school culture. The proposed work will include a case study approach, as students have shared they find it easier to talk about case studies than share personal experiences as it relates to bullying and feeling that they belong. The school intends to incorporate conflict resolution skills and strategies for distress tolerance as well as a service learning component.