TACOS - Taking Care of Ourselves
With our focus on improving the social and emotional wellbeing at AES, I applied for an Innovation Fund grant sponsored by the school. I called it the TACOS program, which stands for Taking Care of Ourselves. Adding some nice floor lamps and cushions for the couch and we have a good start to our room.
The purpose is to provide a place where our staff and students can meditate, yoga, nap, color, or do whatever they like in order to take care of themselves mentally.
Here is my original grant, which runs that fine line between totally crazy and smart.
AES INNOVATION FUND PROPOSAL
The TACOS Initiative involves:
HS Staff
HS Students
HS Parents
Wellbeing Committee
With hopeful carry over to the entire AES Community...and the WORLD!
TACOS TUESDAYS
What are your outcomes and how will these be evaluated?
Education program on TACO ingredients.
# of stakeholders involved.
Survey data on the effectiveness of the program.
Creation of TACO spots around the campus.
Track usage and effectiveness of TACO spots.
Creation of a website where we can share our work and data with schools around the world.
What is innovative about your idea?
The TACO Initiative seeks to build a comprehensive framework that would educate us all about healthy, life-long practices that will provide balance, healthy living while improving academic outcomes.
Why is TACO a priority?
AES has defined wellbeing as a priority for 2019-2020.
The TACO program will help to provide a resources and support to the HS Wellbeing and other AES committees to work with and build upon. Most importantly, it would provide resources to build trial TACO rooms and programs in High school.
What makes a great TACO?
WHO CAN WE TACO WITH?
Our colleagues.
Our students.
Our parents.
Our families.
Ourselves.
In what format?
Individual.
Small groups.
Student and/or staff-led programs.
HOW CAN WE TACO? What are the ingredients of a great TACO?
What are the best ways to TACO?
Possible Methods:
Meditation.
EFT Tapping.
Prayer.
Tree hugging.
Yoga.
Other???
Education of stakeholders on how to TACO.
WHEN DO WE TACO?
What can be done at school?
At home?
On the bus?
Before a summative?
At stressful times during our lives?
Other???
WHERE CAN WE TACO?
What spaces can currently be utilized for by our stakeholders to take care of their mental, emotional and physical (MEP) needs?
Gym/weight room.
Seating areas around the school.
Other???
Where can we develop more spaces for TACO?
Zen gardens.
Rooms with music and/or meditation apps, yoga mats, comfortable seating.
Relaxing music playing in the hallways.
Other???
WHY DO WE TACO?
Reduce stress.
Improve educational outcomes (more with less).
Improve health outcomes.
Reduce substance abuse.
Come together as a community to support each other.
TACO Timeline
2019-2020 Semester 1 Research and plan to implement TACO. Gather data.
2019-2020 Semester 2 Implement The TACO Initiative.
RESEARCH - PLAN - IMPLEMENT - EVALUATE
TACO $$$
Requesting $3,000
TACO equipment for the creation of a TACO room in the HS Admin building.
Yoga mats and blocks.
Comfortable seating.
Bluetooth speakers.
Build an iPad frame for Apps/Music to be able to be streamed to speakers.
Purchase of Apps for iPad.
Gongs, prayer bowls, etc.
Artwork.
Lighting.
TACO equipment for the creation of TACO spaces elsewhere in the HS.
Possibly HS-MPR.
Zen garden.
Nature TACO spots.
TACO Educational Materials & Training:
$500 for the training of staff leaders.
$300 for educational materials, workbooks, surveys,
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