We are writing to let you know the PeaceBox: Mindfulness on the Move mobile mindfulness unit has been donated to our campus as part of the PeaceBox "Summer of Giving” program*. PeaceBox will be parked on our campus October 2nd from 7 AM to 6 PM. WHS students, staff, and parents will have the option to participate in complimentary mindfulness exercises for 20 minute sessions offered every half hour.
Currently, some teachers have signed up to bring their classrooms to briefly visit the PeaceBox. Parents will be receiving an email notification directly from their student's teachers if they are planning to visit. Any student can opt out of the classroom participation if they do not want to participate. Otherwise students are able to visit the PeaceBox before school, during their lunch, or after school. The PeaceBox will also be open to the community from 7am until the school bell rings at 8:50am and again from 4:15pm until 6pm.
PeaceBox teaches a secular approach to mindfulness and offers tools intended to reduce stress, improve focus, and enhance wellness. The timing is critical as WHS students have recently reported high levels of stress.
The partnership with PeaceBox began last spring when Westlake High School PTO funded a 6-week Mindfulness@Schools training offered by PeaceBox. Sixteen WHS counselors and teachers participated and received certificates of completion. Eanes ISD has a district wide initiative to keep focus on our educational objectives of communication (respect, civility, and tolerance), SEL - Social Emotional Learning (respect for all, empathy resilience), and innovation (always striving for best practice). We believe this evolving partnership with PeaceBox will continue to advance us in each direction.
If you would like to learn more about mindfulness, Stacy Thrash, owner of PeaceBox, will be leading our Speaker Series this Thursday from 12-1 PM at the Westbank Library and more information about PeaceBox teachings can be found at https://peacebox.com.
- Kristi Waidhofer and Katie Bryant - Student Support Counselors
*PeaceBox Summer of Giving program: Austin-area Businesses partner with PeaceBox to donate "PEACE DAYS" mindfulness education and practice to eligible schools. For every 2 days an employer hires PeaceBox to train their employees, one PEACE DAY will be donated to an eligible school.