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February 5 2021

Mental Health and Wellbeing

School Office

The emotional wellbeing of children is just as important as their physical health. Good mental health allows children and young people to develop the resilience to cope with whatever life throws at them and grow into well-rounded, healthy adults.

Here, at St Albert the Great Catholic Primary School, we are proud of the work we do to support children’s mental health and wellbeing. Each class has ‘Wellbeing Ambassadors’ who help organise and facilitate activities and events linked to promoting good mental health and wellbeing.

Our Mental Health Team:

Mental Health Lead: Mrs L Wilson

Deputy Mental Health Lead: Mrs J Kelliher

Link Governor: Mrs Felices Palayo

Mental Health Awareness Week May 2022

During Mental Health Awareness Week, the children took part in the National Literacy
Trust’s Wellbeing Campaign. On Tuesday, each class watched a live event during which Ant and Dec launched their project ‘Pass the Positivity at School’. During the live event, illustrator Katie Abey, guided the children to draw pictures of what makes them happy. To finish off, Ant and Dec spoke about how reading for just ten minutes can be a big mood booster and have a positive impact on their wellbeing. Children throughout the school then boosted their wellbeing by reading their favourite books.

Children’s Mental Health Week February 2022

Children created their own superheroes to
help them when they are worried. They now know that they can use their own superhero powers to overcome anything.
The children have been participating in a variety of art activities connecting colours to their emotions. The Colour Art Project has allowed them to think about expressing themselves and their feelings through mindful, colourful pieces of art. They have truly enjoyed naming the colours of their emotions and using different techniques to complete their images.
We recognised the importance of wearing what makes us feel comfortable and happy and enjoyed taking part in ‘Dress to Express’ day.
Year 6 enjoyed learning about the brain and how the amygdala and the prefrontal cortext help us to manage our emotions and decision making. They discussed some of the pressures they face and what they can do to help  manage the feelings and emotions these pressures  bring. The children participated in a mindfulness activity by closing  their eyes and, using their other senses to identify and describe different textured objects to their learning partners.
Year 1 participated in some Cosmic Yoga and calming stretches. They focused on their breathing and gentle movements to help get them ready for their learning.

Just Talk Week and Anti-bullying Week November 2021

During Just Talk Week and Anti-bullying Week, children across the school have been involved in many creative activities to help promote the theme ‘One Kind Word’.

Children in Y2 made grow with kindness flowers and have been learning to spread kindness.
Children in FS thought of kind words.
They then made paper chains containing the words they had thought of.

Year 1 made a beautiful Tree of Kindness in honour of This tree is decorated with kind words and ways that we can show kindness to other people.

During the week, children in Year 4 enjoyed learning about the history of Anti-bullying Week in their guided reading lessons. Following this, they
created their own posters using Chromebooks
to raise awareness.

World Mental Health Day October 2021

Children in Year 2 created ‘Positivity Jars’ and added positive affirmations.
FS2 children enjoyed exploring our school grounds during their ‘Mindful Walk’.




Children in Year 6 enjoyed taking part in ‘Finger Breathing’, which is a mindfulness technique that teaches children how to pause and use their fingers to take five deep breaths. 

Supporting Mental Health and Wellbeing in our local community

Our school community collected items for ‘Comfort Cases’ which provide backpacks filled with comfort and personal care items for youth entering the foster care system. 
Our Wellbeing Ambassadors and Head Boy and Head Girl delivered the items to Katie who works for Comfort Cases. She was absolutely thrilled to receive her first donation from a school.

Mental Health Awareness Week 2021

Children in all year groups have taken part in Yoga sessions.
This has helped improve strength, balance and flexibility.

Children in Year 1 enjoyed taking part in yoga during our recent Mental Health Awareness Week.
“I like yoga because you can exercise and feel calm.”
Our FS2 children talked about friendship and the qualities a good friend should have. They completed a mindful colouring exercise and presented it to a special friend.
“It made me feel happy because my friend did really good colouring.”
Year 4 enjoyed planting their own seeds as a well-being activity. They will continue to care for their seeds throughout the summer term in the hope of seeing some tomatoes and beans eventually grow through.

Here some pictures of our children enjoying a huge range of activities during our recent Feeling Good Week and Children’s Mental Health Week 2021.

Here are some resources you may find useful:

https://mindedforfamilies.org.uk/ – a free educational resource on children and young people’s mental health 

https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/ – an online tool and email journey to support everyone in taking action to look after their mental health and wellbeing 

http://www.bereavement.co.uk/ – information and resources to support bereaved pupils, schools and staff 

http://www.childhoodbereavementnetwork.org.uk/ – information and resources to support bereaved pupils, schools and staff 

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