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Board approves 'Mindful Movement' high‑school PE course blending mindfulness and physical education
Summary
The Arlington School District board voted to adopt a new high‑school course, Mindful Movement, combining physical training, mindfulness and social‑emotional learning standards. The board approved the course unanimously; startup costs were covered by an existing district grant.
The Arlington School District board voted to approve a new high‑school physical education course called Mindful Movement that combines strength and flexibility training with breathing and mindfulness techniques intended to support students’ physical and mental health.
The motion to approve Mindful Movement was moved by Director Watts and seconded by Director Knapp; the clerk recorded affirmative votes from Director Diamond, Director Kelly, Director Watts, President Levitt and Director Knapp, and the board approved the course.
Andrea Dixon Hundermark, principal at Weston, introduced the proposal and turned the presentation to Steph Jordan, who designed the curriculum. Jordan said the semester course is structured around four units that pair physical activities with social‑emotional learning competencies and OSPI’s SEL framework. She described the course as trauma‑informed and accessible to students who have limited prior experience with structured exercise: “Everybody has a body that can move, and they just need to learn how that moves,” she said.
Jordan told the board the initial startup cost was about $5,000, funded by the district’s OSSS grant, and she estimated recurring annual materials costs at roughly $500. As part of the preparation she completed training described in the presentation as a foundational yoga instructor and social‑emotional learning facilitator certificate (presenter noted a 200‑hour training component). The course will provide students high‑school PE credit and include fitness planning and execution aligned to graduation requirements.
Student advisors on the board supported the change. One student advisor, Deja, said, “I think it’s a really good idea...that’s something that is a class that I would take.” Another advisor, Nathan, added that the course answers gaps in students’ knowledge about their bodies and movement and that it would provide “lifelong mindfulness strategies.”
The board adopted the course in a recorded vote. Implementation and ongoing costs will be covered by school PE budgets and the OSSS grant for initial equipment and training; staff said they will report back on enrollment and program outcomes.
