“Leonie Stewart conducted a highly successful “More Than Mindfulness” program at my school. This program involved participation of teachers, students, staff and parents to learn life skills and methods that increase wellbeing.
This program involved developing positive thinking skills, focusing, goal setting and optimistic perseverance strategies.
Through the guidance and leadership of Leonie our aspirational outcome for this program was achieved. Students, staff and parents were equipped to deal with challenge, take risks, and welcome greater responsibility to setting their own learning trajectory. The role of parents in this program cannot be underestimated. Through involving all members of the school community collaboratively we built community resilience and allowed children to reach their full potential. Leonie provided us with the unique opportunity to experience Eugene Gendlin’s theory whereby change was able to occur because she enabled us to be with all sides and aspects of ourselves.
We are so grateful to Leonie’s work as she enabled us to not only achieve but to sustain our aspirational outcome which was to provide a learning environment that is more conducive to increasing student outcomes for all; where learners are engaged and take greater responsibility for their learning; where risk taking is the norm and innovation and curiosity drive change; and teachers know their learners and support them to reach their full potential.”
Suzanne Bevan
Principal
Prouille Catholic Primary School, Wahroonga
I really loved more than mindfulness because it helped me to realise that there are ways to calm yourself and take care of your worries. I think it was fun learning new skills to make me fill happy and not stressed. MTM has been very helpful and enjoyable.
Sarah, Year 5
More than Mindfulness has taught me how to settle myself through relaxation and meditation.It taught me how to relax in stressful situations and gave me ways to settle myself. Mindfulness has helped me a lot because it is relaxing and it helps me feel less worried.
Paul, Year 6
I like that I can focus on what I’m feeling on the inside and we have a special amount of time to connect and understand what’s on the inside. I also like that can private and only you have to know what’s going on because sometimes not every body needs to know. I like focusing because it helps calm me and gives me a chance to relax and think about what’s happening and how to deal with it. Focusing allows me time to try and make the feeling [ if it’s a bad feeling ]ease a bit. And when I’m really connected it can tell me how it wants me to be with it, which is good for me.
James, Year 6
Focusing helps you clear your mind and soul and just relax. When you focus, you leave the outside world and retreat through your skin and bone, and get to a secret place only you know about
Trevor, Year 5
What I like about focusing is that I can block the bad thing that’s inside me and make it a happy feeling. I also like doing it because it helps me when I’m stressed
Jane, Year 6