A Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel mini-grant helped purchase the GoZen program that is currently being used by Breitung Township Schools to help students cope with various stressful situations. (Submitted photo)

KINGSFORD — Jessica Clarke, Breitung Township Schools social worker, was awarded a mini-grant from the Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel for the 2024-2025 school year.

She purchased the GoZen program to help teach research-based coping, resilience and mindfulness skills.

Clarke said she enjoyed the GoZen program and she utilized it throughout the school year with many students in kindergarten through 12th grade. “This program is used like a toolbox and the more tools we have, the more prepared we are for scenarios that happen throughout the school day,” Clarke said. She found GoZen relatable and easy to understand. It utilizes printables, podcasts, videos and worksheets for social emotional learning. It focuses on many areas, including anger, anxiety, friendships, growth mindset, mindfulness, panic relief, resilience and self-compassion, she said.

“GoZen easily helps students learn to name and recognize things that are happening in regards to their emotions. It teaches students how their brains work and how to respond to stressors through animated videos and worksheets,” she said. “The animated videos make it practical, relatable and easy to assimilate concepts. The depth of information on biological factors of how the body and mind work in stressful situations is put into easy terms that students can understand. Students love the way that the program grabs their attention and keeps them engaged while learning therapeutic concepts. GoZen utilizes humor and relatability through the characters to keep students excited to continue learning.”

Clarke added, “I have witnessed many of the students I regularly use this program with stop and think before they react to situations. GoZen has been a wonderful tool to use daily with students that I am able to work with.”

MARSP is an organization comprised of retired school personnel who are proud to provide these grants to area educators to help them purchase materials which, due to budgetary restraints, might not otherwise be available to their students. For further information concerning MARSP, go to https://www.MARSP.org.