For Schools
K-5/6
K-8/Middle School
High Schools
K-5/6
Keynote
To kick off the Student Wellness Training Program we start with a keynote presentation where a YWN speaker address’ the entire school and discuss the importance of mental health and wellness along by sharing key tools and strategies to use in increasing mental health and well-being. Students leave with a deeper understanding of how to be their own best friend by not being so hard on themselves and contributing in a positive way to their school and their community. By spending time sharing personal/case study stories, speakers are able to create a connection with this young audience before taking them through these important learnings. Typically keynote presentations run from 30 – 40 minutes.
Student Training
The Student Wellness Leader Training portion of our program for K-5 and K-6 schools consists of 4 modules: Mindfulness, Self-Esteem, Emotional Intelligence, and Leadership.
Module 1:
Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift! That’s why they call it the PRESENT! (Mindfulness)
Participants explore the concept of mindfulness, why it is important and how it can help us in our lives through concrete tools and strategies.
Module 2:
ME before WE (Self-Esteem and Self-Worth)
Participants better understand where self-worth comes from (from within!) and learn tools to increase their self-esteem.
Module 3:
Emotions are OK and so am I. (Emotions)
Participants increase their awareness of their emotions and learn tools to support expressing emotions in healthy ways.
Module 4:
Learning to Lead (Leadership)
Participants have the opportunity to learn about their strengths and how best to operate within a team.
Once the student training is complete, we shift our focus to the implementation of school-wide wellness initiatives. These will be led by the Student Wellness Leaders and supported by YWN facilitators. We continue to mentor and support these Wellness Leaders to implement anywhere between 2 – 5 initiatives picked from a list of 26 before the start of the program.
The training is for grades 4, 5 and 6 and usually, the group size is between 20 – 30 student participants.
Teacher Workshops
In these interactive workshops, educators work on developing daily practices and strategies that can help boost their self-esteem and confidence, decrease stress, increase their energy and ultimately allow them to have more to give to their students in the classroom. Teachers will also learn simple strategies on empowered communication as well as increasing student engagement and productivity rooted in mindfulness and positive psychology.
Topics to Choose From:
1) Showing Up At Your Fullest Capacity: Self-Care and Self-Worth
2) Creating A Mindful Generation: Bringing Mindfulness Practices Into Your Lives Both In and Out of the Classroom
3) Listening to Understand and Empowered Communication
4) Emotional Intelligence: Supporting Healthy Emotional Expression
Parent Presentations
In these informative workshops, parents will learn strategies and tools on how to empower their families by improving communication, decreasing stress and increasing energy, self-care and self-esteem, authentic role-modeling, listening to understand instead of to respond, and empowered communication to help parents restore communication and repair connection in the modern family.
Topics to Choose From:
1) Filling Your Own Cup: Self-Care and Self-Worth
2) Creating A Mindful Generation: Mindfulness at Home
3) Creating Conscious Communication in the Family
Additional Resources and Support
INCLUDED IN ALL PROGRAM PACKAGES ARE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AND RESOURCES PROVIDED FOR TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND PARENTS
These resources include:
• A detailed blueprint of how to implement the school-wide initiatives that your school chooses
• 2 hours of online or telephone support for the mental health and wellness teacher leads that are chosen or volunteer to support the program
• A PDF document that includes additional strategies and resources for teachers to incorporate wellness into their daily lesson plan
• A PDF document that includes additional strategies and resources for parents to incorporate wellness practices with their family
In addition to our signature programming, we also offer one-off presentations, workshops, after school programs, and wellness experiences.
These additional offerings can be added on to any package at a discounted rate or can be booked on their own.
These include:
• Keynote Presentations for Students and for Parents (various topics to choose from)
• Workshops (for full day events, conferences, wellness weeks, etc.)
• Yoga/Movement Classes (for teachers and students)
• Meditation Classes (for teachers and students)
• Mindfulness Classroom Presentations
• Sound Healing Workshops
Leah Denov & Jenny Zhang, Teachers
George B. Little Public School
We have had the privilege of working with the Wellness Leader Training Program (Youth Wellness Network) at George B. Little P.S. this year. At the beginning of the school year, our staff chose 3 initiatives to focus on to improve the overall wellness of our students and staff.
Michael Eisen also took time to present valuable wellness strategies with our staff that we could use and bring back to our classroom practices. They learned about the Emotions Wheel, PBOR method, and simple meditation exercises.
Many of our student leaders worked with Anastasia to build a community of learners that would be well versed in mindfulness strategies to share with the rest of the school. They had an opportunity to learn appropriate strategies and skills related to mindfulness, self-esteem, managing emotions, conscious wellness goal setting, and how to be a leader in the school.
They carried out the 3 initiatives and we were able to build community as a school and make mental wellness a priority. We have started and continued the Mindful Minute on Mondays and it has been highly successful and well received within our school.
A student leader named Baarathi said, “I think it’s a good program because it makes you feel better about yourself.” This is a valuable program and we can see many schools benefiting from the initiatives it offers.
Interested in bringing YWN to your school?
K-8/Middle School
Keynote
To kick off the Student Wellness Training Program we start with a keynote presentation where a YWN speaker address’ the entire school and discuss the importance of mental health and wellness along by sharing key tools and strategies to use in increasing mental health and well-being. Students leave with a deeper understanding of how their thoughts impact their words and actions and how they can use this information to forward their own growth and development both in their personal lives as well as in school. By spending time sharing personal/case study stories, speakers are able to create a connection with their student audience leaving them inspired and motivated to take what they have learned and implement it into their daily lives. Typically keynote presentations run from 45 minutes to 1 hour in length.
Student Training
The Student Wellness Leader Training portion of our program for K-8 and middle schools consists of 6 modules: Mindfulness, Self-Esteem, Emotional Intelligence, Conscious Choices, Leadership and Taking Action.
Module 1:
Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift! That’s why they call it the PRESENT! (Mindfulness)
Participants explore the concept of mindfulness, why it is important and how it can help us in our lives through concrete tools and strategies.
Module 2:
ME before WE (Self-Esteem and Self-Worth)
Participants better understand where self-worth comes from (from within!) and learn tools to increase their self-esteem.
Module 3:
Emotions are OK and so am I. (Emotions)
Participants increase their awareness of their emotions and a tool to support participants in expressing emotions in healthy ways.
Module 4:
Make Choices Everyday. (Conscious Choices)
Participants learn about choice and have the opportunity to explore the outcomes of making choices and discuss why awareness of our choices can be beneficial.
Module 5:
Learning to Lead (Leadership)
Participants have the opportunity to learn about their strengths and how best to operate within a team.
Module 6:
I share with my peers and I take action (Initiative Planning)
Participants are guided to develop their own personal wellness plan, determine their support network and are guided to apply what they have learned to the Wellness Initiatives planning and implementation.
Once the student training is complete, we shift our focus to the implementation of school-wide wellness initiatives. These will be led by the Student Wellness Leaders and supported by YWN facilitators. We continue to mentor and support these Wellness Leaders to implement anywhere between 2 – 5 initiatives picked from a list of 26 before the start of the program. The training is for grades 6, 7 and 8 and usually, the group size is between 20 – 30 student participants.
Teacher Workshops
In these interactive workshops, educators work on developing daily practices and strategies that can help boost their self-esteem and confidence, decrease stress, increase their energy and ultimately allow them to have more to give to their students in the classroom. Teachers will also learn simple strategies on empowered communication as well as increasing student engagement and productivity rooted in mindfulness and positive psychology.
Topics to Choose From:
1) Showing Up At Your Fullest Capacity: Self-Care and Self-Worth
2) Creating A Mindful Generation: Bringing Mindfulness Practices Into Your Lives Both In and Out of the Classroom
3) Listening to Understand and Empowered Communication
4) Emotional Intelligence: Supporting Healthy Emotional Expression
Parent Presentations
In these informative workshops, parents will learn strategies and tools on how to empower their families by improving communication, decreasing stress and increasing energy, self-care and self-esteem, authentic role-modeling, listening to understand instead of to respond, and empowered communication to help parents restore communication and repair connection in the modern family.
Topics to Choose From:
1) Filling Your Own Cup: Self-Care and Self-Worth
2) Creating A Mindful Generation: Mindfulness at Home
3) Creating Conscious Communication in the Family
Additional Resources and Support
INCLUDED IN ALL PROGRAM PACKAGES ARE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AND RESOURCES PROVIDED FOR TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND PARENTS
These resources include:
• A detailed blueprint of how to implement the school-wide initiatives that your school chooses
• 2 hours of online or telephone support for the mental health and wellness teacher leads that are chosen or volunteer to support the program
• A PDF document that includes additional strategies and resources for teachers to incorporate wellness into their daily lesson plan
• A PDF document that includes additional strategies and resources for parents to incorporate wellness practices with their family
In addition to our signature programming, we also offer one-off presentations, workshops, after school programs, and wellness experiences.
These additional offerings can be added on to any package at a discounted rate or can be booked on their own.
These include:
• Keynote Presentations for Students and for Parents (various topics to choose from)
• Workshops (for full day events, conferences, wellness weeks, etc.)
• Yoga/Movement Classes (for teachers and students)
• Meditation Classes (for teachers and students)
• Mindfulness Classroom Presentations
• Sound Healing Workshops
Maari Lowe, Teacher
Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts
It was an absolute gift for our students to share their mindfulness training time with Anastasia. She was strategic with her ability to create an emotional climate that was safe and comfortable for our students to exchange feelings and ideas. Anastasia shared her vulnerabilities, struggles and the journey she took to becoming comfortable with who she is. It is evident that Anastasia’s conscious choice to make mindfulness and herself a priority has been a game changer for her present level of happiness. This set a powerful example for our youth.
Our students created a mural that represents calm. It is our hope that this mural will be a permanent fixture in our school for all students to benefit from. Anastasia was also instrumental in coaching our students to share their insights and strategies to navigate life’s challenges with the entire school at Wexford’s Wellness assembly. It was fabulous to see our Wellness leaders shine.
Anastasia, I thank you for your authenticity, your sense of humour and your willingness to share YOU 🙂
Interested in bringing YWN to your school?
High Schools
Keynote
To kick off the Student Wellness Training Program we start with a keynote presentation where a YWN speaker address’ the entire school and discuss the importance of mental health and wellness along by sharing key tools and strategies to use in increasing mental health and well-being. Students leave with a deeper understanding of how their thoughts impact their words and actions and how they can use this information to forward their own growth and development both in their personal lives as well as in school. By spending time sharing personal/case study stories, speakers are able to create a connection with their student audience leaving them inspired and motivated to take what they have learned and implement it into their daily lives. Typically keynote presentations run from 45 minutes to 1 hour in length.
Student Training
The Student Wellness Leader Training portion of our program for high schools consists of 6 modules: Mindfulness, Self-Esteem, Emotional Intelligence, Conscious Choices, Leadership and Taking Action.
Module 1:
Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift! That’s why they call it the PRESENT! (Mindfulness)
Participants explore the concept of mindfulness, why it is important and how it can help us in our lives through concrete tools and strategies.
Module 2:
ME before WE (Self-Esteem and Self-Worth)
Participants better understand where self-worth comes from (from within!) and learn tools to increase their self-esteem.
Module 3:
Emotions are OK and so am I. (Emotions)
Participants increase their awareness of their emotions and a tool to support participants in expressing emotions in healthy ways.
Module 4:
Make Choices Everyday. (Conscious Choices)
Participants learn about choice and have the opportunity to explore the outcomes of making choices and discuss why awareness of our choices can be beneficial.
Module 5:
Learning to Lead (Leadership)
Participants have the opportunity to learn about their strengths and how best to operate within a team.
Module 6:
I share with my peers and I take action (Initiative Planning)
Participants are guided to develop their own personal wellness plan, determine their support network and are guided to apply what they have learned to the Wellness Initiatives planning and implementation.
Once the student training is complete, we shift our focus to the implementation of school-wide wellness initiatives. These will be led by the Student Wellness Leaders and supported by YWN facilitators. We continue to mentor and support these Wellness Leaders to implement anywhere between 2 – 5 initiatives picked from a list of 26 before the start of the program. The training is for all grades and usually, the group size is between 20 – 40 student participants.
Teacher Workshops
In these interactive workshops, educators work on developing daily practices and strategies that can help boost their self-esteem and confidence, decrease stress, increase their energy and ultimately allow them to have more to give to their students in the classroom. Teachers will also learn simple strategies on empowered communication as well as increasing student engagement and productivity rooted in mindfulness and positive psychology.
Topics to Choose From:
1) Showing Up At Your Fullest Capacity: Self-Care and Self-Worth
2) Creating A Mindful Generation: Bringing Mindfulness Practices Into Your Lives Both In and Out of the Classroom
3) Listening to Understand and Empowered Communication
4) Emotional Intelligence: Supporting Healthy Emotional Expression
Parent Presentations
In these informative workshops, parents will learn strategies and tools on how to empower their families by improving communication, decreasing stress and increasing energy, self-care and self-esteem, authentic role-modeling, listening to understand instead of to respond, and empowered communication to help parents restore communication and repair connection in the modern family.
Topics to Choose From:
1) Filling Your Own Cup: Self-Care and Self-Worth
2) Creating A Mindful Generation: Mindfulness at Home
3) Creating Conscious Communication in the Family
3) Cracking the Teenage Code
Additional Resources and Support
INCLUDED IN ALL PROGRAM PACKAGES ARE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AND RESOURCES PROVIDED FOR TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND PARENTS
These resources include:
• A detailed blueprint of how to implement the school-wide initiatives that your school chooses
• 2 hours of online or telephone support for the mental health and wellness teacher leads that are chosen or volunteer to support the program
• A PDF document that includes additional strategies and resources for teachers to incorporate wellness into their daily lesson plan
• A PDF document that includes additional strategies and resources for parents to incorporate wellness practices with their family
In addition to our signature programming, we also offer one-off presentations, workshops, after school programs, and wellness experiences.
These additional offerings can be added on to any package at a discounted rate or can be booked on their own.
These include:
• Keynote Presentations for Students and for Parents (various topics to choose from)
• Workshops (for full day events, conferences, wellness weeks, etc.)
• Yoga/Movement Classes (for teachers and students)
• Meditation Classes (for teachers and students)
• Mindfulness Classroom Presentations
• Sound Healing Workshops
Neil Dyal, Principal
SCAS, Scarborough Centre for Alternative Studies
This past school year, we were fortunate to work with the Youth Wellness Network (YWN) in order to support our school’s commitment to promoting positive mental health and well-being for our students and staff. We were looking for ways of enabling our students and staff to cope with stress and anxiety in their daily lives and for developing life-long strategies for improving their mental health and well-being. Our partnership with the Youth Wellness Network made it possible for us to accomplish this school-wide goal and we are grateful for all of their help in training our staff and our student leaders to support our school-wide initiatives.
We are also very grateful for the help, tutelage, and facilitation of our YWN representative, Anastasia. Over the course of the school year, Anastasia led the wellness training for our student leaders and staff advisors. She was there at every step of their development in order to prepare them to lead the two school-wide initiatives that would benefit all 1600 students and staff at our school. One initiative was a “Mindful Minute” program which we began in the Month of May and which will run through to the end of the school year. During our Mindful Minute, all classes pause what they are doing, and practice a minute of mindful breathing that is led over the PA system in order for students to reduce their stress level and gain clarity in order to better focus on the rest of their day. This program has been going superbly and many students have remarked what a calming effect this has had on them.
In addition to this initiative, Anastasia also worked with us on planning a Gratitude Mural in our front foyer and she facilitated two teacher workshops: one on “Mindfulness” and on “Listening to Understand” that has benefited our whole staff. Both our student leaders and staff advisors agreed that working with the Youth Wellness Network has been a very positive experience this year. I am looking forward to partnering with the YWN again next year!