Many of our Communities In Schools of Greenville afterschool participants struggle with self-regulation skills, particularly at Welcome Elementary. They began the year needing constant refocusing and correcting. They would cry, blurt out answers, and respond to one another out of anger and frustration. In addition to homework help and academic skill-building, the CIS of Greenville program at Welcome focused on building relationships with caring adults; starting each day with a group council meeting called "COEXIST," where they practiced public speaking, strengths-based acknowledgement of peer successes, and appropriate verbal and non-verbal responses; and weekly yoga instruction.

CIS of Greenville contracted "Yoga2Go" services to teach self relaxation and regulation skills. At both Welcome Elementary and Grove Elementary, the CIS of Greenville participants receive 30 minutes of yoga instruction each week, followed by a time of reflection and journaling. As they learned breathing techniques and simple movements, the students became able to practice the skills when needed, even if Miss Amy was not present. The behavior during Yoga2Go class and other activities improved! By the end of the school year, students could focus on tasks longer and identify their own moods! CIS of Greenville looks forward to expanding the Yoga2Go project next year and Miss Amy's continued commitment to helping our students understand their emotions and their bodies' responses to different environmental triggers. Thank you.