Julian Curtiss School 5th Graders Teach Greenwich Police, Fire and GEMS Mindfulness Techniques

Left to right, 5th graders from Julian Curtiss School Jaden Scott, Logan Jozwiak, Lauren Resnick and Jake Tisler. April 6, 2017 Photo: Leslie Yager

On Thursday, four Mindfulness Ambassadors, all 5th graders from Julian Curtiss School, did a superb job teaching members of the Greenwich Police Dept, Fire Dept, and GEMS some easy techniques to exercise mindfulness.

The children explained mindfulness in easy to understand terms. First, Logan, taught everyone the mindfulness body position: two feet on the floor, hands in laps, sitting up straight.

Then he asked everyone to close their eyes and simply listen to the sounds from outside, then the sounds inside the room and then the sounds of their bodies. He asked everyone to take a deep breath in and out.

Dennis Fogler of GEMS participates in a mindfulness exercise. April 6, 2017 Photo: Leslie Yager

The children explained the two parts of the brain – the safe brain and the thinking brain.

“Your safe brain is always watching for triggers that might be perceived as threatening, physically or emotionally,” said Mrs. Boie. “Your safe brain takes over which means your thinking brain is offline.”

“The thinking part of the brain is like a conductor. It determines your emotional control, determining right from wrong. When you’re hungry, your safe brain flicks on,” Jake said.

“The safe brain is like a fire alarm, a panic button, a security officer,” Jake continued. “Your safe brain flicks on, and is constantly saying, ‘Am I safe? Am I safe? Am I safe?”

Dennis Fogler and Patrick O’Connor from GEMS took in the mindfulness lesson from JC 5th graders. April 6, 2017 Photo: Leslie Yager

“What we’re teaching the children in school is that when they are anxious or stressed, they can’t think, problem solve and learn well,” Mrs. Boie said.

The children said that mindfulness allows the thinking brain to take back over from the safe brain.

The children also explained “heartfulness,” and had all the participants think of someone they love, even if it’s not someone they see often. The exercise, which can help with empathy and compassion, involves thinking of someone you love very much and imagining they are present in the room. Police Dept, Fire Dept and GEMS members imagined making that person happy and imagining how they feel, how they feel when they make them happy and then to send them a kind though. They all repeated out loud, “May you be healthy and happy. May you be peaceful.”

School psychologist Alina Agiurgioaei Boie coordinates the Mindfulness initiative as part of Social-Emotional Learning in Greenwich Schools. April 6, 2017 Photo: Leslie Yager

School psychologist Alina Agiurgioaei Boie, who coordinates the Mindfulness initiative as part of the Social-Emotional Learning  project with her husband Fabian Boie, who is also a psychologist in the district, said mindfulness is part of the The Dare to Care program in Greenwich Public Schools, which receives support from the Greenwich Alliance for Education.

Mr. Boie noted that the difference between a “reaction” and a response, whether it be to someone giving you a push or hostile comment is eight seconds.

“It’s all about slowing down in this crazy era where everybody is on the go,” Ms Agiurgioaei Boie said. “By doing mindfulness a little every day, it can make a world of difference.”

She said it’s possible to practice mindfulness while washing dishes or taking a walk.

At the end of the exercise, Patrick O’Connor from GEMS said, “Just imagine if you took the time to do this every day!”

Exercising mindfulness, left to right: Greenwich Police Detective Mike Rooney of the Special Victims Section, John King of the Special Victims Section, Detective Charles Eible of the Special Victims Unit and Sergeant Frank Reeves who is supervisor of the Special Victims Section. April 6, 2017 Photo: Leslie Yager

Left to right: Fire Dept Deputy Chief Brian Koczak, Fire Dept Deputy Fire Marshal Chris Moynahan, Deputy Fire Marshal Rob Natale and Assistant Fire Chief Bob Kick. April 6, 2017 Photo: Leslie Yager