The Bronxville Promise is about educating the entire student and that includes not just the 3 Rs but skills for leading balanced, healthy, productive lives in a fast-paced world. The Foundation has funded several key wellness programs throughout the District.
Sensory Pathway
Installed in 2021, the Sensory Pathway is regularly used and enjoyed by students of all ages at the Bronxville School. The 80’ path of colorful decals is laid out by design on the floor and wall of a 40’ portion of a hallway. The path gives students an opportunity to self regulate through a visually appealing, safe, non-threatening, stimulating, and fun motor experience. The students visually focus, conceive, plan, and execute a skilled, non-habitual set of motor acts in the correct sequence from start to finish. Once finished, the students are better prepared for focused learning in the classroom.
Meddy Teddys & Mindfulness Corners
Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we are doing, and not be overly reactive or overwhelmed by what is going on around us. As part of the CARE wellness program in the Elementary School, Foundation grants have funded Meddy Teddys and Mindfulness Corners for emotional regulation and distress tolerance in the classroom. These tools help students to use self-regulation skills taught in the CARE program.
Challenge Success
In 2016, Middle and High School principals requested a Foundation grant to become part of Challenge Success. Challenge Success is a program out of Stanford University that grew as a response to an increase in academic and emotional problems among kids in the United States. Utilizing the resources of a prominent advisory board of interdisciplinary experts, the co-founders of Challenge Success created a research-based organization that develops practical curriculum, conferences, and programs for parents, schools, and kids looking for a healthier and more effective path to success in the 21st century. Challenge Success helps schools transform policies and practices to address the need for academic engagement and well-being for their students. They work with schools to implement ideas including homework policies, designing a healthier schedule or revising exam scheduling. Challenge Success uses a process including a needs-assessment that involves an extensive student survey, analysis of the results of the survey with comparison to over 40,000 students at close to 60 high-performing schools, attendance at conferences, coaching sessions for the faculty, parent education and/or faculty development workshops as well as action planning based on the results of the survey.
Antibullying PSAs
Through a Foundation grant, fourth and fifth graders have created anitbullying public service announcements and premiered their videos before an audience of peers and teachers. Using professional-quality camera equipment, the students took on the roles of writers, directors, producers and actors under the guidance of Mike Feurstein, a filmmaker, educator and Don't Wait to Unmake a Bully program creator. Fourth graders participated in the Don't Wait to Unmake a Bully project, while fifth graders participated in the Don't Wait to Unmake the Mediasphere, which focused on issued around social media. The fourth graders' work with the Don't Wait project was supported through a grant from the Foundation in 2018. Due to the program's success with the fourth graders, it was expanded to include the fifth graders in 2019. The program reinforced the important messages of standing up for yourself, standing up for others, and apologizing when you make a mistake. Creating these meaningful PSAs was an innovative way to engage students in antibullying conversations.
Freshman Transition Program
Moving from Middle to High School is daunting so the High School Guidance Counselors approached the Foundation to support the Freshman Transition program that pairs High School seniors with groups of incoming freshman. The program has included a trip to Sharpe reservation for the freshman class and their senior leaders for team building and ice breaking activities. Seniors meet throughout the year with their assigned freshmen to provide a familiar face, answer questions, talk about typical high school concerns and make sure that the freshmen are finding their way. The program not only makes sure that new freshmen are comfortable but provides a valuable leadership and community service opportunity for seniors.