At the most recent CSD School Committee meeting on May 13, Kathy Hartley's fourth grade students from Boothbay Region Elementary School did a demonstration of how they begin every school day, with mindfulness-guided meditation.

Hartley said she learned about this technique during some time she spent at Chewonki. The goal is to teach “being in the present moment” to students and to help them do better both in subjects taught in school and to feel more balanced in life. The other fourth grade class, taught by Mrs. Lassen, also joins in for a total of 17 kids.

“When we first started this at the beginning of the year, the students lasted about 30 seconds,” Hartley said. “Now we usually take about 10 minutes. We added slowly, building up by 30 seconds to where we are now.”

The students demonstrated the technique in a shortened version.

First, after sitting down in chairs with Hartley, she told the students to close their eyes and place their hands in a comfortable position. She played a single note on a silver tubed xylophone, and guided the students to focus on their breathing and clearing their minds.

“Visualize you are putting your thoughts on a dory and sending them out to sea,” Hartley said.

She told the students it was time to set their intentions for the day. She suggested intentions such as “I am kind” or “I am peaceful.” She guided them in slow, deep breathing known as Ujjayi (pronounced Ooji) such as four beats in, hold for six, breath our for eight. After a few minutes, she again played the single note and instructed her students to open their eyes.

All throughout the presentation, the students kept their eyes closed, and were totally focused. There was no fidgeting, giggling, or distraction with any student. They were 100 percent focused on the meditation.

Hartley asked the students to talk about what hand position they used, what intention they set for their day, and how the technique helps them in their everyday lives.

Mariah Andrews said that she set the intention of being a good friend, and that she used the technique at home when things got crazy.

Dylan Plummer said he set the intention of being mindful, and that he used the technique to calm himself down.

Sydney Blake said she set the goal of being peaceful, and that the technique helped her before taking tests.

Caden Royal said he set the goal of being calm.

Callen Eason said her goal was to be a “focused scholar” and that it helps her to sleep at night.

Emery Lorrain said her goal was to be mindful.

Tyler Barter said his goal was to be “calm, cool and collected.” He said: “I can get defensive at school and it helps keep me calm.”

Meghan Leeman said that her goal was to be calm, and that the technique helped her with that goal.

After the presentation, the school committee members remarked how relaxed and at ease they felt just watching the students.