Kara Willey comes to Walnut Ridge

VERNON — On Thursday, Oct. 6, Kira Willey presented her Mindfulness, Music, and Movement professional development session with teachers at Walnut Ridge Primary School.
Kira Willey is an award-winning song writer, musician, yoga instructor, and soon-to-be children's author who shared her knowledge as it relates to movement, music, and mindfulness in the instructional setting. Mindfulness and movement are scientifically proven to improve academic achievement, self-regulation, and students' interpersonal skills when utilized regularly in the classroom environment. Walnut Ridge Primary School uses mindfulness, brain breaks, and large, gross motor physical activities in the classroom to improve students' academic, social, and emotional experiences on a daily basis.
On Friday, Oct. 7, Kira Willey and Friends, performed for an exuberant audience of preschoolers through first graders. During the two assemblies, students sang, danced, took yoga and breathing exercise breaks, and shared some ideas about respect and gratitude. Students and teachers were dressed in various colors to make a rainbow of colors during the assemblies for Walnut Ridge's Week of Respect celebration. This rainbow of people, balloons, and a "Walnut Ridge loves Kira Willey and Friends" banner designed by Denise Docherty, art teacher, and decorated by students at Walnut Ridge, surprised Kira for her 2nd annual visit to the school. One of Kira's most famous songs is "Colors," which includes all the colors of the rainbow and feelings associated with the hues.
Following the professional development and musical yoga concert assemblies, Walnut Ridge Primary School will continue to use music, movement, yoga, and mindfulness in every classroom at various times during the school day.