North Merrick youth enjoy a night of mental wellness

The North Merrick School District’s commitment to building positive mental health habits continued at their latest Mindfulness Retreat for students in kindergarten through third grade on Feb. 8.

Hosted at Old Mill Road School, it was a night of fun and relaxation for families as several activities encouraged them to clear their mind and take deep breaths. Teachers led groups through routines focused on mental wellness, such as a session of Zumba that challenged participants to center and balance themselves. Additionally, families crafted whirlwinds that spun with each blow, unleashed their creativity with freehand doodles, created squishy snow dough and mixed aromatic ingredients to form a ball-shaped bath bomb. In another session, families formed a circle to play a game that required teamwork to count higher and higher. At each session, student volunteers assisted families in finding all the materials they needed.