We value smiles as much as success and our last week of the half term has included lots of extra activities, assemblies and events focused on developing awareness of the importance of both physical and mental health for overall wellbeing.

Everyone in school has chosen from a range of activities to enjoy with friends from their year group.   

Junior students have been getting to know each other better using quiz question cards about themselves, finding a new friend to play with for a change, sharing their funniest jokes, favourite photos and recipes with their classmates.  Thank you to our Games Captains for setting a few challenges for their class to complete at playtimes. There have been some great paper aeroplanes flying about and some truly fantastic dance moves to Just Dance !

We have also enjoyed being outside, creating an Amazing Autumn nature table and dipping into some new wellbeing books in class:

• Year 3 You Can by Alexandra Strick 
• Year 4 The Feeling Good Club: Smash Your Worries, Bella! By Kelly Mckain 
• Year 5 The Same Inside by By Liz Brownlee, Roger Stevens, Matt Goodfellow 
• Year 6 Scarlet Ibis by  Gill Lewis

Singing together is known to improve mental health. The senior school choirs and Year 3 and Year 4 students had the opportunity to work with Paul Whittaker OBE in special singing and signing workshops culminating in two inspiring showcase concerts for parents in St. John’s Church.   

Running throughout our week has been appreciation and consideration of each other and getting to know one another better. In our Junior section, there have been some fabulous kindness cards created by students for each other and Year 7 built upon this idea, creating and gifting Complement Cloaks to a friend they have made this term.

Our Senior students have enjoyed a week filled with choices ranging from Yoga, Clay Tea Lights, Chocolate Meditation and Pampering to Origami, Pot Painting, Poetry Pharmacy, Just Dance and Body Balance – something for everyone.  Our Learning Resource Centre was transformed into a device free sensory zone with music and puzzles. Universally popular has been stops for Pain Au Chocolat treats with juice and hot chocolate !  Sixth Formers enjoyed going off site for ceramic painting and chocolate twists.