Another successful JAYC group was completed between February and April of 2013 at the Sonoma Charter School. Attending were a select group of 4th and 5th graders that were chosen on the basis that they are potentially influential in their peer group. The nine week class was conducted both on campus as well as at an off site ranch. As usual, the words and concepts of Attunement, Awareness, Integrity, Respect, Safety, Compassion, Instincts, Empathy, Trust, Connection, and Support were the focus of the sessions. Students participated in a variety of exercises. They chose their “handles”, were issued their bandanas, learned the JAYC Group oath, and repeatedly offered and were given examples of real life scenarios that represented the vocabulary words.
The student were encouraged to live with these concepts as a way of life. The Pony Express was used as a living testament to the concepts, due to the culture of those times which required respect, awareness, empathy, and attunement. Included here are some pictures of the last class “Celebration”. This class included roping, horse painting, cooking, and relay races. Of particular note was the level of cooperation and compassion. The students left this class with their Certification of Completion and their personal bandanas.
