This year, I'll be sending a mindfulness newsletter at the start of each month. This month's focus is how to kick-start the year with mindfulness and build it into daily routines from the beginning.

We are changing to a monthly rhythm in an effort to reduce clutter in your inbox and allow for more intentional work with campuses. If you'd like more regular updates, please follow me on twitter, @mrbutler629. I post regularly, providing tips and highlighting mindfulness happening across the district. If you post, feel free to use the hashtag #mindfulAISD to keep everyone connected.

Use 3-5 minutes to briefly define mindfulness, how it helps the brain and take three deep breaths together as a class. Below you'll also find some helpful resources, a letter to families and videos to help explain mindfulness to your students.

Communicating with parents & families is incredibly important to start the year off right, especially when it comes mindfulness. Here's a letter about mindfulness you can share with families. It provides a brief description of mindfulness and a message from Dr. Cruz supporting mindfulness in schools.

The letter is available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Farsi/Dari & Burmese. (Shout out to our amazing refugee support team for the translations!)

Last year, all 130 AISD campuses were implementing mindfulness in one way or another. Way to go, y'all! This year, we're going to have a more intentional focus on sharing mindfulness.

Elementary Projects & Initiatives

• Supporting PK-2 suspension ban, especially at Title 1 campuses
  
• Creating mindful rooms/spaces
  
• Connecting schools with community members to facilitate mindfulness for teachers/students
  
• Working with teachers on how to lead mindfulness on their campus

Secondary Projects & Initiatives

• Working with student-athletes at Lanier, Austin, LBJ & middle schools TBD (pilot program)
• Starting a Mindful PALS program at Reagan, Ann Richards & McCallum (pilot program)
• Connecting schools with community members to facilitate mindfulness for teachers/students
  
• Working with teachers on how to lead mindfulness on their campus
• Creating mindful rooms/spaces
  

As always, please email me at james.butler@austinisd.org if you have any wonderings on the projects above or would like discuss additional needs.

I'm proposing an idea to present on mindfulness with 3 former students (1st, 5th & 11th graders) in a panel format titled "Mindfulness & Student Voice."

If you'd like to support the ideas below, take a minute to vote using the links. Thanks!

Kristina Yoder, 3rd grade teacher at Clayton Elementary, is proposing a presentation titled "A Brain Changer: Master Emotions with Mindfulness"

SEL Specialists Hilary Simon & Kevin Kerr are proposing a presentation titled "Changing the Conversation: A Restorative Approach."

2016-2017 Newsletters (Check out the #mindfulAISD archives to access newsletters from last school year.)

For those using Mindful Classrooms: The Educator Guide, I recommend using Week 1 & 2 during August. This is a very loose recommendation though. Use what works best for you and your class. AISD staff can sign up for a free electronic copy in the support form at the bottom of this newsletter.

If you haven't filled out the #mindfulAISD Google Form (below) and want to highlight your work and/or receive mindfulness support, please check it out. It only takes a moment to complete. Know someone in AISD interested in mindfulness? Send them this newsletter for them to fill out the Google Form.

James Butler

SEL Mindfulness Specialist

james.butler@austinisd.org