.
ROCKY HILL COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL PRESENTS
2022 MINDFULNESS CONFERENCE
SATURDAY, APRIL 9th
7:30 AM – 2:00 PM
A COMMUNITY OF MINDFULNESS
Join Rocky Hill Country Day, and Christopher Willard, author of Growing Up Mindful, as we host ‘A Community of Mindfulness.’
SATURDAY, APRIL 9th 2022
7:30 AM – 2:00 PM ET
REGISTRATION FEES:
- EarlyBird/Group (until March 22): $99
- Regular Admission (after March 22): $149
Optional 5 Continuing Education Unit (5 CEU) credits for a $25 processing fee.
Certificate of Completion will be awarded upon request.
Join us as we come together to celebrate and embrace a community of mindfulness! Nothing is more important than the well-being of the whole child and the caring and trusting adults that are an integral part of their lives. Research shows that self-care practices, like mindfulness, are at the root of physical and emotional health and wellness.
Whether you are an educator, student, parent, mental health or health care professional, you will experience the positive and calming impact of mindfulness practices while gathering other valuable ‘takeaways’ to embed into daily routines with children, teens, adults…and for yourself, as well!
DAY AT A GLANCE
Hear from thought leaders in the field of mindfulness…
- Keynote Speaker, Dr. Chris Willard, PsyD discussing Mindful Resilience and Post Traumatic Growth in the New Normal
- A Mindful Message featuring Dr. Mark Bertin, MD and his work focused on ADHD, self-compassion, and resilience with children.
Engage in conference sessions with mindfulness practitioners…
- Tara Wosiski~Creativity, Mindfulness and Compassion
- Adam Boaz~The Healing Power of Gratitude
- Michelle Jones and Traci Fairchild~Curiosity & Presence: Growing the Quality of Our Listening.
Participate in mindfulness practices…
- From moments of quiet reflection to active engagement, gain first-hand awareness of what mindfulness offers you and what you can share with others.
Experience a Mindful Gallery…
- Explore a range of mindfulness ideas and resources, including books for sale by Dr. Chris Willard and Dr. Mark Bertin.
Enjoy refreshments and mindful eating!
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Dr. Christopher Willard (PsyD) is a psychologist and educational consultant based in Boston specializing in mindfulness. He has been practicing meditation for 20 years, and has led hundreds of workshops around the world, with invitations to more than two dozen countries. He currently serves on the board of directors at the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy, and is the president of the Mindfulness in Education Network. He has presented at TEDx conferences and his thoughts have appeared in the New York Times, The Washington Post, mindful.org, and elsewhere. He is the author of Child’s Mind (2010), Growing Up Mindful (2016), Raising Resilience (2017), and eight other books for parents, professionals and children, along with six sets of cards and therapeutic games, available in more than ten languages. He teaches at Harvard Medical School. On the personal side, he enjoys traveling, hiking, cooking, reading and writing, and being a father.
PRESENTERS / FACILITATORS
MARK BERTIN, MD
Dr. Bertin is a developmental pediatrician and author of How Children Thrive and Mindful Parenting for ADHD and Mindfulness and Self-Compassion for Teen ADHD, which integrate mindfulness into pediatric care, and a contributing author for Teaching Mindfulness Skills to Kids and Teens. Dr. Bertin is on faculty at NY Medical College and the Windward Teacher Training Institute, on the board of directors for APSARD, the American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders, and on the advisory boards of Common Sense Media and Reach Out and Read. His blog can be found through Mindful.org and Psychology Today, and through his website developmentaldoctor.com.
Tara Wosiski is an artist, author and art educator in grades preschool through 5. She holds a master’s degree in teaching visual art from The University of the Arts. With over fifteen years of teaching experience at a Friends School, Tara is deeply committed to the social and emotional growth of her students. She presents on mindfulness during monthly faculty meetings and continues her education of applied neuroscience in teaching. Motivated by her knowledge and training in mindfulness, Tara’s pedagogical approach integrates mindfulness with creativity through a wide variety of projects and media. Tara also leads large scale community works designed to produce experiences of awe and is energized by her student’s creativity.
ADAM BOAZ
Adam is an educator, class dean, coach, and public speaker. His personal journey through addiction led him to active practices of mindfulness and gratitude. Fully embracing his own self-care experiences of gratitude throughout his personal life has allowed him to establish both as integral parts of his teaching, as well. Through StrengthTalks, Adam offers motivational and directed discussions that focus on positivity and changing mindsets as a way to decrease anxiety and increase happiness. Active engagement with gratitude is at the forefront of his message.
MICHELE JONES
Michelle Jones (she/her/hers) is the Director of Equity & Belonging at her alma mater Rocky Hill Country Day School in East Greenwich, RI. She received her undergraduate degree in Political Science from Spelman College and graduate degree in Education Administration from Bay Path University. She currently guides institutional work through an equitable lens by writing curriculum, re-shaping co-curricular initiatives, advising student-led spaces, and partnering with school community members to make the campus as welcoming as possible. Michelle enjoys escaping into the world of music by playing her piano and she is the proud mother of a 10 year old daughter.
TRACI FAIRCHILD
Presenter / Co-Facilitator
Traci Fairchild is in her fifth year as Director of Counseling and Wellness at Rocky Hill Country Day School. She previously taught physical education and health for over a decade at RHCD and served as an adviser in Middle School. Seeing the professional need to pursue more coursework as a counselor, Traci earned a master’s degree in social work at Rhode Island College. She trained in mindfulness through Center for Resilience (CFR) in the first RHCD cohort of faculty over eight years ago when their partnership began. CFR has now merged with Inspiring Minds and the partnership continues into year nine! As the lead facilitator of the school-wide mindfulness education program at Rocky Hill Country Day, Traci is thankful that she is able to work across the divisions with students, faculty, and parents to support them in being navigators of their own health in mind, body, and spirit.
PATRICIA PONTARELLI
Co-Facilitator
Patty’s experience spans more than 30 years as an early childhood and elementary school educator and administrator, a total of 21 years at Rocky Hill Country Day School as a former parent, classroom teacher, and Lower School (Nursery-Grade 5) Division Head. She completed training in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), among others, and participates in ongoing mindfulness-related professional development. Understanding the critical role social-emotional well-being plays in the lives of children and adults, she was instrumental in rolling-out the school-wide mindfulness initiative at Rocky Hill Country Day and co-facilitating its Mindfulness Education program with the Director of Health & Wellness in partnership with Center for Resilience. Fully embracing the value of mindfulness at all ages and stages, Patty is committed to expanding and supporting mindfulness education opportunities for children, families, educators, and her own well-being.
SESSIONS
PRESENTER: Dr. Christopher Willard, PsyD
Even as the pandemic shifts into a “new normal,” how can we ensure that our communities emerge from this time more resilient than ever? Join Dr. Chris Willard as we explore the foundations of resilience and post traumatic growth, looking to positive psychology, neuroscience and mindfulness as we explore tools that have boosted human resilience in the face of adversity for generations. This talk will include many experiential exercises along with simple takeaway tips for yourself and your communities, as we enter this new age.
PRESENTER: Dr. MARK BERTIN, MD
Dr. Mark Bertin draws upon his mindfulness work with children, teens, and families and the focus on “cultivating calm, reducing stress, and helping children thrive”. Dr. Bertin’s expertise in ADHD care and the role of self-compassion, help children and teens build executive functioning skills while developing self-awareness, confidence, and resilience. Dr. Bertin offers his insights from a ‘ whole community’ perspective of the benefits of mindfulness for the whole child. Tangible mindfulness practices will be shared.
PRESENTER: TARA WOSISKI
Set an intention for self-compassion through art. In this session, experience how art and creativity foster mindfulness and compassion. Research shows the benefits of compassion are far-reaching and powerful. Participants will explore connecting to their own inner-compassion as they work with line, pattern and watercolor designs. Learn to lead this activity in the classroom or home setting using simple materials. The activity and practice are adaptable for younger students to adults. No art experience necessary to enjoy this mindful drawing and painting activity.
PRESENTER: ADAM BOAZ
How often do you stop to think about what you are grateful for in your daily life? Have you ever considered the positive role gratitude plays for you and others? Gratitude is a skill that can be strengthened by switching from an “I have to ” to an “I GET to” mindset. This session will focus on changing attitudes and behaviors that lead to stress and anxiety by actively practicing gratitude. As the presenter shares, “I have found that many people benefit from a change in perspective and from a fresh voice that awakens the energies and motivations that are inside us all!” Participants will have the opportunity to recognize and acknowledge their own sense of gratitude and learn ways to help themselves and others use this skill to move on from difficult situations and experiences.
PRESENTERS: MICHELLE JONES & TRACI FAIRCHILD
In order to be a mindful community we must begin to foster a mindful listening approach to all of our relationships. In this session, Director of Counseling & Wellness, Traci Fairchild and Director of Equity and Belonging, Michelle Jones will tackle How often in our relationships — as parents, partners, friends, co-workers — do we think we’re listening, but in reality we’re planning how we’re going to respond? It’s so easy to do, especially if the conversation is a challenging one. We will explore how mindfulness affects the quality of our listening — and how shifting can nurture compassion, enhance understanding, create inclusivity, reduce stress, and deepen our connection with the people and moments that matter most.
We will provide a safe environment to come together as a community of mindfulness. Though we will follow the current Rhode Island COVID protocols at that time, we will continue to have masks available for those who choose to wear them as well as provide the space needed for comfortable social distancing and multiple hand sanitation stations.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Dr. Christopher Willard (Psy. D.) is a clinical psychologist based in Boston, MA. He has been invited to more than two dozen countries to speak, and has presented at two TEDx events. He is the author of over a dozen books, including, The Breathing Book (2020), Growing Up Mindful (2016), and Alphabreaths (2019). He teaches at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Willard has been practicing meditation for over 20 years, and teaching for almost as long. His thoughts on mental health have been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, mindful.org, cnn.com, and elsewhere.
PRESENTERS
Tara Wosiski is the art teacher at Moorestown Friends School, grades preschool through 5. She holds a master’s degree in teaching visual art from The University of the Arts. With fifteen years of teaching experience at a Friends School, Tara is deeply committed to the social and emotional growth of her students. Currently, she presents on mindfulness during monthly faculty meetings. Motivated by her knowledge and training in mindfulness, Tara’s pedagogical approach integrates mindfulness with creativity through a wide variety of projects and media. She leads annual large scale community works rooted in Quaker values and is energized by her student’s creativity.
ADAM BOAZ
Adam is an educator, coach, and public speaker. He is currently an English teacher and class dean at King School in Stamford, CT. His personal journey through addiction led him to active practices of mindfulness and gratitude in his teaching and in his personal life. Adam’s presentations focus on positivity and changing mindsets to decrease anxiety and increase happiness.
INTERESTED IN JOINING OUR MAILING LIST?
We'd love to hear from you!
If you are not currently on our mailing list and would like to receive updates on our all future Mindfulness Conferences, please fill out the registration form below. Any related questions may be included in your registration or email them directly to mindfulnessconference@rockyhill.org. We look forward to adding you to our network of mindfulness educators and practitioners!
