E070 Laurie Flanagan Benefits from School Musicals

Let’s Be Well Together Podcast - Episode 70
Date: May 30, 2023

Participants: John Webster, Julie Wilson, Sheila Webster, Cameron Earnshaw, Elise Seifert and Stephen Seifert
Guest: Laurie Flanagan

Start times and Segments:

[0:00:35] What’s On Your Mind: We discuss a Washington Post article by Alyyson Chiu entitled, “Nature can affect human well-being in many more ways than you think. There’s lots to think about. We’re also intrigued by the concept of “ecological amnesia”, with so many of us disconnecting from nature. We forget what nature is, and about its impact on us.

[0:11:42] Expanding Minds Interview: [Artistic Wellness] We interview high school teacher Laurie Flanagan. She, her students and others put on a stage show called High School Musical. We hear about some of the hard work that goes on behind the scenes. Students benefit in many ways and feel they’re part of a community. Parents are thrilled. They often don’t see their kids acting or performing in this way. Teachers work together, collaborate and get stronger as a teaching community. They see the kids differently. The job becomes more fun for everyone.

[0:28:26] Adventures of the Starving Artist: Cameron keeps taking shots when they present themselves. He talks about a past and present attempt to get his voice into a commercial.

[0:32:09] Move That Body: Is exercise punishment or fun? Do we do it for looks, or to feel great? We can reframe how we talk and think about it.

[0:39:19] Running Popup: The food that nature provides has wonderful aromas. John was looking forward to the flavours as he finished his run, thinking about how great it smelled when he prepared it earlier in the day.

[0:41:09] Flipside of the Coin: Elise and Stephen talk about their experience with a long distance relationship.

Quotes and Take-Aways:

Laurie – The students benefit socially from being part of a school muscial . A lot of students who came out this year were looking for a community to be part of, and friends.

Laurie – The students who participated in the high school musical had a lot of fun. They got to know a lot of people. They got to experiment with script and with character and just grow outside of what they thought they could do.

Laurie – All of the students in the show become the centre of their own lives, and their light is shining, and I think that’s why I do it – to see the growth in kids and see their lights shine.

Laurie – There are emotional benefits. Students are struggling often. When they’re struggling, they have a community of support.

Laurie – A school show is one of those things that builds inclusivity into a school, which is so beautiful. Everyone benefits.

Laurie – There’s no limits to how you can benefit when you do an arts project like a high school musical.

Laurie – Every time I do a musical, parents are thrilled. They’re thrilled to see their kids on stage. They’re amazed their kids are doing it. They often don’t see their kids acting or performing in this way. Their children surprise them and it’s a celebration of achievement.

Laurie – When teachers work together and collaborate in this environment, we get stronger as a teaching community. We also see the kids differently. You see their potential and their strength and them being great people. The job becomes more fun for everyone.

Laurie – Through arts education students get opportunities to learn to fail and move through those failures and find achievement. It accelerates their growth.

Bulletin Board Quote brought to you by Stephen: They’re a drag and anyone who’s telling you they’re not is deluding themselves.

Guest Information: Laurie Flanagan is a high school teacher of the arts and religion. For over 30 years..  She’s a dancer, grandmother and mother.  She’s an avid Yoga practitioner.  She has a passion for writing and aspires to enrich, inspire and encourage the imagination of children through the art of storyteller.  In her work, storytelling is a major component of all her creation and teachings. She can be found on instragram @AuthorLRflanagan

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Thanks for joining us,
(-(-_(-_-)_-)-)   Your wellness check-in team
John, Sammy, Cameron, Sheila, Elise, Isabelle and Julie

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E071 Lynne MacDonald Buying a First Home

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E069 Shereen Samuels What is Anti-Racism?