KAUKAUNA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A school in Kaukauna is getting national attention for its use of a discipline program.
Two state representatives from Alabama visited Park Community Charter School Monday to learn more about it in hopes their state will take on the Conscious Discipline Implementation program as well.
Park Community Charter School was on full display for out of state observers Monday morning.
The school was showing off how it helps its students calm down and unwind when they’re upset.
“We’ve been practicing Conscious Discipline, which is a social, emotional learning program for about 10 years,” said Principal Ken Kortens.
Kortens says Conscious Discipline is a brain based program that teaches students skills of self-regulation that they can use when faced with stressful situations.
“It’s not a half hour thing you do every week with a counselor, it’s an everyday, all day long in how we talk with kids and how we work with kids,” said Kortens.
Which include many different activities and exercises throughout the day.
“It’s helped me at home and school, even when we’re not in the classroom,” said Ellie Neumeier, a second grader.
She says she’s learned a lot of strategies that help her calm down.
“Sometimes we use ‘cranky cream’, it’s really lotion but we have a special song for it,” said Neumeier. “We try to do different types of breathings, we make up ones like the ‘pretzel’. You cross your arms and breathe in and out.”
According to a study on Cell Reports Medicine, five minutes a day of breath work improves mood and reduces anxiety.
Breath work also improves mood and physiological excitement more than mindfulness meditation.
“What I like to do to calm down is breathe,” said Keegan Riske, a fourth grader.
Riske says he also likes to go to his safe space when he gets upset.
“My safe place at my house is my room and we have a safe place in our room and outside,” said Riske.
“In that safe place, the kids regulate,” said Leah Vanevenhoven, a fourth grade teacher at Park Community Charter School.
Vanevenhoven says she has taught all over the world.
“I’ve had really vast experiences but I’ve never been fully trained on social, emotional, brain based learning,” said Vanevenhoven.
This is her third year teaching at Park, and she says Conscious Discipline is a great tool kit to have.
“In fourth grade we’re using the words like ‘hey, I’m a bit triggered when such and such happens,’ instead of like blaming others, instead of maybe not being able to deal with conflict resolution,” said Vanevenhoven.
When it comes to Conscious Discipline, Kortens says he’s proud of Park Community Charter School’s handling of the program.
“Districts are starting to notice and we’ve had people from Hilbert, Chilton and Oshkosh and around the state and now we have them from Alabama,” said Kortens.
To learn more about Conscious Discipline, and its role in Park Community Charter School, click here.
