Allow me to introduce myself, I am Matthew Londo, the new guidance counselor at Frances Drake Elementary School. I am very honored and excited to work for the community of Leominster, a city where I was born and raised. My background ranges from serving 8 years in the United States Marine Corps, Coaching Basketball and Football, and volunteering my time with the ARC of Opportunity. I have over 10 years of experience working with maximizing youth potential, and I am so happy to bring this experience back to the community which has done so much for me when I was growing up in Leominster. One of the things that I enjoy most is having lunch with students. This gives me the opportunity to know and understand students outside of the classroom.
One of my tasks at Frances Drake is providing students with a comprehensive developmental guidance program. This guidance program is aimed at strengthening their character, social awareness, and communication skills. The past month I have been introducing students to Mindfulness. Mindfulness is a great tool to help relax, focus, or just simply slow things down. Anyone can practice mindfulness and it is quite simple to do and has lasting benefits. Just like any other activity the more you practice it the better you become at it. So don't be afraid if the first time does not go as planned.
I recommend these few links for some simple guided meditation for you or your child to try. The first link is a simple 2 minute breathing exercise. The second link is a 4 minute breathing and stretching exercise. The second video is a good way for children to release tension and calm down when feeling stressed, anxious, or sad.
