Dance – technique and choreography with Bertha, every Tuesday at 3pm . Minimum age of 8.
Gymnastics – beginner, intermediate, advance with Debbie – every Thursday at 3.20 pm at the gym in Cobano, opposite Megasuper. Open to boys and girls, ages 6 – 16.
For further details contact stuart@futuro-verde.org
It’s likely, by now, that you’ve heard the word Mindfulness. Perhaps you practice it yourself, maybe you’ve been meaning to learn more, or this could be your first encounter. So, what is it, how does it work, and what place does it have in school and in the classroom? The term Mindfulness, in its current iteration was coined in the United States by Dr. John Kabat-Zinn in the 1970’s. It began as a stress reduction technique that he developed and utilized with hospital patients. It now has decades of research demonstrating its efficacy for just about anyone. It has been implemented in schools as a way to help children stay focused, increase academic performance, and develop empathy. According to Dr. Kabat-Zinn, “Mindfulness is awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally (Staff 2016).” With a meditation practice at its core that focuses on breathing, participants realize benefits neurologically, academically, and socio-emotionally.
Neurological Benefits
Dr. Dan Seigel, Harvard Psychiatrist, describes Mindfulness as a “brain hygiene practice” adding that “neural integration is the heart of health (TEDMED 2009).” He is referring to the fact that Mindfulness has been shown in various neurological studies to integrate different brain regions. This allows for emotional balance, flexible thinking, effective communication, perspective taking and self-regulation (TED 2009). Studies have even shown that grey matter thickens in brain areas responsible for learning and memory as a result of Mindfulness practice (Holzel et al. 2010). This means that we can actually grow new brain cell by simply focusing our minds. With the MindUp Mindfulness-Based Social Emotional Learning Program that we are using at Futuro Verde, we are helping each other “take a wandering attention and return it again and again to its target (TEDMED 2009). With this regular core practice, we take a few quiet moments to focus on our breathing and quiet our minds all while growing new brain cells! Students are learning about their brains and what they can do to positively impact their own experience.
Academic Benefits
Helping students to be mindfully aware of their own experience and teaching them focused breathing can have a powerful impact on academics. In the United Kingdom and the United States where Mindfulness has been practiced in schools for many years, children are showing an increased ability to pay attention and concentrate in the classroom. By learning about their brains, they gain awareness of how their brains work and gain mastery in having selective focus. Naturally, this can all have a positive impact on class participation and grades. Most importantly, students gain confidence and begin to understand that they have control of their own minds. This helps them to be engaged active participants as they observe and interact in their environment while taking healthy risks.
Social Emotional Benefits
With an increased sense of awareness and continued practice, students can see the benefits of Mindfulness in their interactions with others. By regulating their emotions and understanding different perspectives, students become more empathetic and compassionate towards others. This helps them to develop and maintain healthy relationships with cooperation as a focus (Hawn 2011). With this type of cooperative community building, conflicts are resolved peacefully and bullying and negative peer pressure diminish. This helps all students to thrive in a school community where they are supported and where they support others. Being engaged in this way provides the emotional balance children need to learn and grow with minimal stress. Programs like Mind Up facilitate an educational experience that is fun where students are focused and engaged while being inspired to participate (Hawn 2011).
By taking a few moments every day to focus on breathing and clear their minds through targeted attention, students reduce stress and actually change their neural biology. This has a profound impact on how they experience school and how they react to adversity. With common language, common practice and a cooperative community students gain the tools to regulate their behavior, emotions, and thoughts in a nurturing environment. If you’d like to learn more about the Mind Up program and the benefits of Mindfulness in general you can watch this TED Talk with Goldie Hawn and Dr. Daniel Seigel, creators of the Mind Up program. With so many benefits maybe you’ll be inspired to try your own Mindfulness practice.
References
During the month of September we celebrate Central American and Costa Rican independence.
Students play a very important role in this celebration; they take part in the lantern parade, the Independence Day Parade, etc. Costa Rica’s educational system has always believed that the future of the country’s freedom it is in the hands of young people, which is why patriotic holidays in Costa Rica are an activity for school children to participate in and are not for military groups in our country.
We are pleased to inform you all that our students will have the opportunity to participate in an intimate and school-community based Civic celebration, but still impressive and unforgettable, event at our school site on September 14th, starting at 10:30 am and finishing at 1:45 pm. We are sharing the detailed agenda below, hoping that you will be able to join us for this wonderful celebration.
September 14th*
Regular School Day Schedule, full FV uniform required. Early Release at 2:00 pm
The Running of the Torch: departing from the city government building around 8:30 am, and running towards Montezuma. Sr. Ramírez and select students will participate.
Honor Guard: from 10:30 am-12:30 pm at the city government building in Cóbano, 6th grade and Miss Vanessa
Activities to be Held at FV
Lantern Parade: 10.30 – 11.00 am
Lunch: 11:00 – 12:10 pm, lunch and sales open to the general public.
Special FV Menu – included in your child’s monthly lunch payment: Chifrijo (with pork or vegetarian)
Sales: grilled meat, desserts, natural juices, tortillas, chorreados, pizza, etc.
Civic Act: 12:30 – 1:45 pm
Presentations: Dances, theater, etc.
The Big Reveal “The Barba Challenge”
1:45 – 2:00 pm – students clean-up and get ready to go home
2:00 pm – early release (busses will depart at 2:00 pm)
September 15th
Parade: starting at 8:30 am, departing from the field in front of the city municipality building in Cóbano and going until the town open air gym.
September 16th
NO SCHOOL: Rest day
*Committed to our designation as a Green school with 5-star certification and fully committed to our sustainability goals, we are proud to announce that we will be holding a sustainable event- with no disposable utensils, with recycling and compost options on-site and with food products that fulfill our school nutrition policy.
On Tuesday, August 30th, we opened the enrollment for the 2017 school year. It is important to note that all students registered for 2016 have priority for continued enrollment for the 2017 school year. However, this priority will only be maintained until December 2nd. After this date, priority will be given to students whom have paid the enrollment fee. If, for whatever reason, you are unable to make your enrollment payment during this period of time, we ask that you come to talk with the Finance Department about your specific situation.
We would like to remind you that to make the enrollment payment you must select “matricula” in the Banco Nacional website (not “mensualidades”) and enter the student number. The invoices have already been added to our system.
Also, we have now opened the evaluation period for 2017 Scholarships. It is important to note that all current scholarship students need to fill out the scholarship form and bring it, along with all the required and up to date documentation, to be evaluated by the scholarship committee. Depending on the evaluation, students may experience a positive or negative change upon the monthly fee that they are currently paying. Our institution strives to ensure educational continuity as long as families are able to demonstrate the same necessities and commitment to the institution. All scholarship forms must be turned in by November 4th. If the form has not been turned in by this date, the scholarship will be automatically cancelled for the coming school year. Attached you will find the scholarship form which you can print and fill out. We will also be sending a printed copy with all students whom currently receive a scholarship with us.
We are making a lot of changes to our scholarship process in order to continue to improve our service to the community. Our goal is to make sure that our scholarship program is benefiting the most in need, while also trying to lower the financial burden on the school. Social justice was a fundamental value during the incorporation of the school and, as a non-profit institution, we have an important commitment to continue to support the community by providing educational opportunities.
As always, we are available to answer any questions that you may have. Please contact us through our email finanzas@futuro–verde.org or ask for an appointment to meet in person.
Thank you, in advance, for your collaboration,
The Finance Department
Every September 15th, Costa Rican students fill the streets with the beat of their drums and in colorful parades commemorating, specifically, the independence day of this country which before, like all the countries in Central America, belonged to Spain. However, there has always been a debate about the date of this celebration because, although teachers lead recitals that celebrate the determination that the people of Costa Rica showed to decide upon their independence, the fact is that on September 15th, 1821 no country’s independence was declared. Not a single country in Central America declared independence on September 15th. This date only proclaims the independence of Guatemala City from the Spanish government.
The process for Costa Rica to become a sovereign and independent nation was more complex and gradual and was one that did not come together fully until 1848, the year in which the Republic of Costa Rica was proclaimed. After confirming its independence from Spain, the territory had several governments that hoped to annex themselves into a larger entity, like the Mexican Empire or the Federal Republic of Central America.
Still, it should not be underestimated, nor should we stop believing in the fact that the Declaration of Independence drafted in Guatemala on September 15th, 1821 marks the most important starting point of the process that led this nation to independence. This is an independence which current day Costa Ricans enjoy, and therefore will continue to celebrate, as they fill the streets with the colors of freedom.
More than 30 students and staff at Futuro Verde were given the prompt “Caring is …” with a piece of paper to write down their thoughts. Everyone had something to say about what it means to them to be caring or to be cared for. The most popular answer was summed up by one respondent, “putting someone else’s needs before yours.” This selfless attitude was echoed by many others who added the theme of service. “Helping others without expecting anything in return” was a belief held by many. Listening was identified by several as being an important aspect of caring. The one word answers were just as strong, with “empathy”, “kind” and “understanding” being popular responses.
The prompt inspired most people to write down what they feel it means to be caring. However, it was obvious that many were drawing from their own experiences and feelings and were making a plea for how they would like to be cared for. As one wrote, “Caring is treating others like you would like to be treated. Compassion and love together [sic].” Always an important thing to remind ourselves of.