Class Focus: Tending to Mind, Body and Soul Creates a Champion

Much more than just a scheduled workout program, In the Mind of a Champion is a new class offering at Eagle Rock School that asks participating students to reflect on their own mind, body, and spirit, and to also consider how the world currently aligns with their personal values.

With intent on developing a personalized physical fitness program, students are also being asked to contemplate on how the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and COVID-19 have had an impact on professional athletes.

Led by Jocelyn Rodriguez, Eagle Rock’s athletics coordinator, and Dan Marigny, a 2020/2021 Public Allies Fellow, students enrolled in this class are listening, researching, and speaking up about how the coronavirus has changed the way sports are viewed, and how athletes are now standing in solidarity on issues put forth by social justice movements like Black Lives Matter. Specifically, each student is asked how they may be able to adopt these athletes’ platform practices into their own lives.

Mind of a Champion Eagle Rock

In addition to highlighting aspects of their physical workout with Jocelyn and Don each week, students are asked to reflect on their mind, body, and spirit and how each aspect contributes to their personal views on the world around them and what it means to be a “champion.” Specifically, they are asked for their take on why athletes in various sports have opted out of participating in their current season, dedicating  time to activism, and walked off of fields and courts to make a statement about the importance of justice.

What is each student expected to take away from this class? Simply put, the primary objective is to Continue reading…

Changes Made to the Morning Exercise Program

Research shows that students who exercise — even a scant half-hour a day — almost immediately show improvement in their school performance. Not only that, but they show fewer signs of depression and they often sleep better at night.

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These in part explain why we’ve changed our morning exercise program from twice a week to four times a week. In addition to our Monday and Friday gate run (where students complete a nearly 3-mile run from the Eagle Rock School to the gate at the bottom of our driveway, and back), we’ve now added half-hour exercise programs on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

When students were asked if they found morning exercise to be beneficial, their responses included:

“I have come to lean on it as a stress reliever.”

“It forced me to push myself.”

“I gained skills.”

“It helped me become more of a leader.”

Although being up, dressed, and ready to exercise at 7:15 am can be challenging for everyone, we’ve framed our morning exercise program around motivational theory to help get students up and ready to go. Self determination theory states that there are three major components to motivation, including: Continue reading…