Coming back to Kingsdale Elementary felt like returning to something special. We had been there in 2023 — and the experience had stayed with us. When the school invited us back, we didn’t hesitate.
This time, we worked with students in grades 3 to 6, building on the foundation we had laid the year before. The goal was the same: use the Headspace Method to guide young students through mindfulness and self-expression — but this time, we were walking into a space that already knew us.
Each workshop began with a guided meditation designed for young minds. We kept it simple and imaginative — visualizing a “mindful garden”, listening to calming sounds, taking slow deep breaths. These gentle exercises helped students settle their thoughts and arrive fully in the room before we began writing.
Then came automatic poetry writing. And once again, the students delivered.
What stood out this time was the depth. The creativity had grown. Teachers noticed it immediately — students who had joined us in 2023 were more confident, more expressive, and more willing to go deep. Some students who had been hesitant the first time were now among the most engaged in the room. That kind of growth doesn’t happen by accident. It’s what happens when young people are given a safe space to practise being themselves.
The feedback from teachers and school administrators was overwhelmingly positive. Many expressed a desire to make these workshops a regular part of the school’s mental health programming — a recognition that mindfulness and creative expression aren’t extras. They’re essential.
For Scattered, returning to Kingsdale was a reminder of why consistency matters. Showing up once is meaningful. Showing up again is transformative.