MPY is committed to bringing cutting-edge information and high-quality professional development to Massachusetts educators, students, and parents. Workshops are facilitated by experts recognized in the fields of education, psychology, social work, counseling, and student safety.
MPY partners with members to tailor workshops to meet the individual school’s unique and varied needs. Each member district/organization may select up to five in-service workshops annually. The following workshops are available for staff and parents. MPY does not offer PDPs and/or CEUs for in-service workshops.
For more information or to schedule workshops, please contact Prevention and Education Coordinator, Amy Welch at amy@mpyinc.org.
The following workshops are available for staff, students and parents. Workshops are offered both in person and via Zoom. MPY requires a minimum of 25 participants for staff workshops and a minimum of 40 participants for parent and caregiver workshops. Exceptions are made on a case by case basis.
Core needs for everyone and crucial in creating a supportive, dynamic learning environment are connection and belonging. Creating an environment of safety, trust and engagement is the foundation for fostering healthy relationships amongst students and adults. One key and powerful way to create this environment of trust and engagement is using well-led play. Play helps create a social and emotional learning environment of cooperation, active engagement, joy and social connection. Thus, a Community of Care and Belonging.
Many play activities and Play leadership skills will be taught. Skills and activities that highlight how to use playfulness to engage students, how to add in playful movement as brain breaks, how to interject simple mindfulness activities and offer voice and choice which fosters safety and internal control, all while having fun ourselves.
This workshop will allow the participants to "Expand their bag of tricks." Utilizing energizers, ice breakers, circle games, active games, theater games, team building games, free play and imaginative play, this strand will offer many activities that will support any PBIS and SEL programming, responsive classroom curriculum or restorative circles practices.
Play is one of the fastest and most direct paths to building genuine connection — at any age. When people play together, something shifts. Guards come down, laughter opens doors, and belonging follows naturally. This highly experiential workshop explores how intentional, well-led play builds the social-emotional foundation every thriving classroom needs.
Drawing on the neuroscience of learning and behavior, the power of a growth mindset, and the science of positivity, you'll discover why play is the brain's most natural path to engagement — and how to use it purposefully. You'll leave with a toolkit of simple games and collaborative problem-solving activities designed to spark curiosity, build student agency, and deepen relational trust.
This workshop is informative, immediately applicable, and genuinely fun. Because when students feel connected, they're ready to learn — and when teachers feel it too, everyone thrives.
