Avon East SOAR-STICE event encourages mindfulness

A new program at Avon East Elementary School, 3100 Nagel Road, will encourage students to be “mindful,” according to a news release.

Beginning Jan. 3, the school will kick off a school-wide mindfulness event called “SOARSTICE,” which will include an assembly, yoga, a classroom lesson and the movie “Inside Out,” the release said.

Led by Kasey Kellem, a school counselor from Hillside School in Parma, the assembly will feature a message of perseverance and believing in yourself, followed by an activity led by a happiness coach about loving yourself, kindness and compassion, the release said.

Part three of will be a yoga lesson with special yoga guests, as well as students making their own breathing stick, according to the release.

An evening program for parents will take place on the same day from 3 to 6 p.m. at the school. It will focus on sharing what the students did during the day, as well as how to use the activities with the students at home over the next few months, the release said.

The program will follow with students participating in a “mindful” event on the first Monday of every month in addition to the publication of a monthly “Mindful Monday” newsletter that will have parenting tips and a summary of the monthly lessons, according to the release.

Local businesses will participate in the program signified by displaying a SOAR-STICE Eagle, which will serve to remind students to spread kindness and discuss mindfulness behaviors, the release said.

Students will receive a sunshine bracelet from the business as a reminder to spread kindness.

The program is part of the mission of the Avon Local School District in striving to educate students on the importance of being good and respectful citizens, the release said.