#HelloYellow World Mental Health Day 2020
On Friday 9th October we celebrated World Mental Health day in style! In support of the Young Minds Charity, the Uk’s leading charity fighting for children’s and young people’s mental health, each child and adult in the school came in dressed in as much yellow as they could possibly lay their hands on! The energy around the school was electric and, despite the children all being in separate bubbles, there was a real sense of community spirit that ran through the school.
Each teacher had planned a range of activities, pitched at different levels and learning styles, to encourage their youngsters to consider the importance of keeping their minds healthy, as well as their bodies.
In Nursery the children made the ‘longest paper chain’ and were proud of their collective piece. They were able to recognise the importance of working together and showing support to everyone. In Reception and KS1 there were Worry Monsters created to ‘feed’ any worries to for the monster to gobble up and take away. A Speed friend activity gave the children the opportunity to connect and find out something new about each other and Superhero’s were designed with special powers of kindness, friendship and listening skills etc.
The KS2 children were also involved in a variety of tasks which considered a deeper thinking of positive mental health and how to recognise emotions, whilst being able to name them and ask for help. Mindfulness colouring was undertaken whilst listening to meditation music to support relaxation and focus, whilst worry dolls were constructed tools for ‘taking on’ worries and removing them from the child. Additionally children built a well-being tree from their positivity leaves and the Year 6 children drew pictures to convey their feelings and emotions through artwork inspired by Kandinsky.
However, without doubt, the most uplifting experience of the day was when the whole school came together, in their individual bubbles, for the first time since lockdown on the 23rd March. Despite virtual weekly singing assemblies being posted it was the first opportunity for all the children to sing with each other in school. Around the school field the children stood, socially distanced in their groups, to sing songs about feeling good. They sang ‘Power in Me’ with actions, a song which promoted the very essence of the day, along with Top of the World, Mama Mia and Don’t Stop me Now! The atmosphere was marvellous as was the chemistry in the air as everyone enjoyed taking part. The sun came out and it was a most uplifting experience, one that everyone will remember.
Throughout this wide range of activities each child was able to learn about the power of a positive mind-set but more importantly to understand that it is okay to not be okay and where to go and what to do if they need support. The school raised £220.00 for the Healthy Young Minds Charity.
Each teacher had planned a range of activities, pitched at different levels and learning styles, to encourage their youngsters to consider the importance of keeping their minds healthy, as well as their bodies.
In Nursery the children made the ‘longest paper chain’ and were proud of their collective piece. They were able to recognise the importance of working together and showing support to everyone. In Reception and KS1 there were Worry Monsters created to ‘feed’ any worries to for the monster to gobble up and take away. A Speed friend activity gave the children the opportunity to connect and find out something new about each other and Superhero’s were designed with special powers of kindness, friendship and listening skills etc.
The KS2 children were also involved in a variety of tasks which considered a deeper thinking of positive mental health and how to recognise emotions, whilst being able to name them and ask for help. Mindfulness colouring was undertaken whilst listening to meditation music to support relaxation and focus, whilst worry dolls were constructed tools for ‘taking on’ worries and removing them from the child. Additionally children built a well-being tree from their positivity leaves and the Year 6 children drew pictures to convey their feelings and emotions through artwork inspired by Kandinsky.
However, without doubt, the most uplifting experience of the day was when the whole school came together, in their individual bubbles, for the first time since lockdown on the 23rd March. Despite virtual weekly singing assemblies being posted it was the first opportunity for all the children to sing with each other in school. Around the school field the children stood, socially distanced in their groups, to sing songs about feeling good. They sang ‘Power in Me’ with actions, a song which promoted the very essence of the day, along with Top of the World, Mama Mia and Don’t Stop me Now! The atmosphere was marvellous as was the chemistry in the air as everyone enjoyed taking part. The sun came out and it was a most uplifting experience, one that everyone will remember.
Throughout this wide range of activities each child was able to learn about the power of a positive mind-set but more importantly to understand that it is okay to not be okay and where to go and what to do if they need support. The school raised £220.00 for the Healthy Young Minds Charity.
Mental Health Awareness Week 2020
The Mental Health Foundation defines kindness as: “doing something towards yourself and others, motivated by genuine desire to make a positive difference,”
To recognise this importance of this week, particularly during the current pandemic lockdown, the whole school were invited to make virtual Kindness Cups to award. This provided a chance to recognise and reward the children, teachers, parents/carers and other individuals who have made a positive difference at this challenging time.
The response to the task was marvellous, with cups awarded throughout the whole school for a variety of reasons, all linked to the support and kindness that had been central to them.
To recognise this importance of this week, particularly during the current pandemic lockdown, the whole school were invited to make virtual Kindness Cups to award. This provided a chance to recognise and reward the children, teachers, parents/carers and other individuals who have made a positive difference at this challenging time.
The response to the task was marvellous, with cups awarded throughout the whole school for a variety of reasons, all linked to the support and kindness that had been central to them.
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