Michelle Auld
District Wellness Coordinator at Brooklyn Center Community Schools
Brooklyn Center, Minnesota

A sixth-grade student at Brooklyn Center Middle and High School STEAM was experiencing severe anxiety in the classroom, to the point that he became so overwhelmed that he needed to leave the classroom to vomit. Some days this happened more than once, and often multiple times per week. Because the student was absent from the classroom recovering in the nurse’s office or sent home when symptoms were severe, he was missing valuable lesson time and school work.

Knowing the benefits mindfulness techniques had on kids from mindful movement trainings implemented by the district’s Wellness Coordinator, the school nurse introduced this student to mindful movement. Working with the nurse, the student began to build a supply of self-help tools, incorporating relaxation, breathing and visualization techniques into his repertoire. Together, they practiced the techniques using spatial and emotional awareness, while focusing on his triggers and cues. The more he practiced, the more he saw the techniques having an impact on regulating his anxiety. Soon the student was successful in negating and dissipating the anxiety with self-management and self-regulation, and he no longer needed to leave the classroom.

Now this student  stops by the nurse’s office only occasionally—to give an update on his progress and share his success using mindfulness techniques! This student’s growth was made possible because of the dedication of Brooklyn Center Community Schools to child well-being.

District Wellness Coordinator Michelle Auld has utilized numerous resources and grants to activate programs and activities that help students live healthier lives. From attending wellness events to participating in yoga classes and veggie challenges, Michelle aims to help students and their families continue healthy practices at home that they learn in school.

According to Michelle, implementing mindfulness initiatives with teachers and staff in schools has had a profoundly positive impact on their students. Middle school teacher Sara Anderson was an early adopter of mindful movement with her special education students, and she immediately saw how well students responded. They were more relaxed and calmer, which allowed for deeper learning in the classroom. Noticing the impact, she asked students to express how meaningful the exercises were to them. Whether they chose to draw, write, or act out the benefits of the mindfulness exercises, every student remarked on the positive impact, and many shared that they practiced the mindful techniques at home, too.

Donate now to support kids like this 6th grader, and learn how you can take action for healthy kids.