With the help of her son and some very talented Todd art students, Todd Elementary School guidance counselor Kay Brancato is transforming some vacant space in her classroom into a “mindful garden.” Her son, Tony Brancato, has drawn the outlines of garden mural designs on each wall to serve as guidelines (pictured) for students in Paul Villanueva’s Art Focus class to paint at a future date. Ms. Brancato hopes to complete the room with pendent replicas of birds and butterflies, hanging plants and a green grass-like carpet.
“It will be a unique space and I’m really excited,” said Ms. Brancato. “We are creating a quiet, peaceful place like no other…It will serve as a place where students learn to be mindful.” This ties into Todd’s school-wide social-emotional learning initiative of teaching Todd students to view their day-to-day experiences with an open mind.