Andrew Caselli, a special-education teacher who now leads a meditation program at the high school, told the school committee the course is semester-long, available to all four grades and can be taken as an elective or a wellness credit. Caselli said the class typically enrolls 16 to 19 students and that his overall caseload includes about 62 students in study-skills classes.

Caselli described the curriculum as a mix of mindfulness exercises, guided meditation, journaling and student-led practice. He said students take a 10-question mindfulness measure at the start and during the semester to track growth. Caselli said the program includes a 21-day challenge in which students meditate twice daily for 20 minutes and that some students have shown notable increases on the measure; he described one young man who jumped six points between September and December and said he had seen improved behavior and engagement.

Student speaker Caroline Collette described how the class provides a quiet, safe space for students to reduce anxiety and connect with peers. She described meditative walks, mandalas and journaling as activities used in class and said the practice had become part of her daily routine. Committee members asked whether the course is offered to all grades and how frequently it meets; presenters confirmed it is open to all four grades and meets four days a week.

Committee members praised the student presenters and discussed the potential for broader access, including the possibility of assemblies or opening the practice to larger student groups. Caselli said student-led sessions are already part of the model and that the program emphasizes emotional resilience and listening skills.