Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR) has given $10,000 to support a local Wellness and Resiliency Program at South Burlington High School.

Marilyn Neagley of Shelburne is the program coordinator. "Green Mountain Coffee Roasters has been a leader in developing wellness programs that include mindfulness training and yoga within its company. Shinzen Young, who leads GMCR's mindfulness training and retreats, is also working with the South Burlington teachers," Neagley said. "Training our youth in exercising calming practices and stress management increases their ability to learn and process information as well as deal with the day-to-day stress of social situations that are part of being a student."

The program, which includes approximately 100 teachers, addresses wellness and learning through stress management and mindfulness techniques. These techniques are brought into the classroom as part of the student's regular curriculum.

GMCR showed particular interest in the South Burlington School District's teacher and teen retreats. A teen wellness retreat for three high schools, South Burlington, Burlington, and Champlain Valley Union is offered this summer at Omega Institute.

The Talk about Wellness initiative offers partial to full scholarships, thanks to grants from Wind Ridge Publishing and the Ferguson Foundation.

For more information please contact marilynneagley@gmail.com or go to www.talkaboutwellness.org.