Good morning, Prep School family,
I hope that this Bulletin finds you well and on the countdown to half term. I cannot believe that I am saying that already. This half term has flown by and next half term will be the same. We only have 4 and a half weeks once we are back until the Easter holidays. It is going to be a very busy time in the Prep School! I hope you all had a good weekend. Mine was lovely – I randomly bumped into a family who I knew from my first ever school, their children who were in my class are now in their mid-twenties, with proper grown up jobs and in the process of buying houses! That made me feel so old, even more so as the girls still insisted on calling me Miss P! I also got to spend time with my family and friends and do some of the jobs that I had been putting off for a while. You will also be pleased to know that the Christmas/winter tree is finally down. . .not long though before I can put it back up!
This week is National Children’s Mental Health Week which we always put a huge emphasis on within the Prep School with our own Well-Being Week. However, due to this week being taken over by the Key Stage 2 productions, we are postponing our Well-Being Week until straight after half term. Mental Health and emotional fitness is so important to us as a school that we wanted to ensure that we gave the week the dedicated time that it deserves. I would also just like to add here that everyday within the Prep School we take mental well-being seriously and we discuss it on a regular basis with the children. Our Well-Being Week allows us to celebrate mental health for a week and how we can achieve and maintain the best mental health possible for us individually. The national theme this year is ‘My Voice Matters’ and this is about empowering children and young people by providing them with the tools they need to express themselves. We will also be adopting this theme for our week.
When we feel empowered, there’s a positive impact on our well-being. Children who feel that their voices are heard and can make a difference have a greater sense of community and self-esteem. This year, we want our children of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to be empowered to work together to create a positive change for their mental health and well-being. However, a person’s mental and emotional needs may not always be as obvious to us or as easy to identify as some of the physical needs. Some children present outwardly as being perfectly fine. They are happy, smiling and always surrounded by friends – however, what may be happening on the inside could be totally opposite. For some adults, the idea of mental health and emotional well-being in children can be a really scary topic to talk about and this is ok to feel this way.
The one thing that we as adults cannot do, is brush this topic under the carpet and hope it goes away. Good mental health allows children to think clearly, develop socially, learn new skills and make good academic progress. Additionally, good friends and encouraging words from adults are all important for helping children develop self-confidence, high self-esteem and a healthy emotional outlook on life.
At school, we actively promote talking about feelings and emotions. We encourage the children to challenge how they are feeling and to take ownership of their attitudes and emotions. We also ensure that the children know that they can ask for, and will get help, if they need it. By doing this and enabling our children to have a deep understanding of their well-being and mental health, we will hopefully be raising well-rounded, determined and extremely resilient individuals who are able to embrace the challenges that they will face growing up and through the rest of their lives. We are also making it ok and normal to ask for help, for those times in the future when faced with extra tough times.
So keep talking to your children, have those difficult conversations if needed, show them it is ok not to be ok, let them see you cry, respect their emotions, show them healthy relationships and enjoy the small things together. There is a lot of truth in the old adage, ‘A problem shared is a problem halved’. Sometimes just verbalising our feelings, goes a long way to making things seem more manageable or understandable.
Remember, we are always here for all you all as well as the children. Take care of yourselves.
I look forward to sharing more about our Well-Being Week with you after half term.
Quote of the week: “When you have a thousand reasons to smile, don’t focus on that one reason to be sad” – @andeepwrites_
Well-being tasks for this week: These tasks are based on Friendly February. They are meant to inspire us to be friendly to others and give your relationships a boost. Have a go!
Tuesday 6 February – Get back in touch with an old friend that you haven’t seen for a while
Wednesday 7 February – Show an active interest by asking questions and talking to others
Thursday 8 February – Share how you are feeling with someone you really trust
Friday 9 February – Thank someone and tell them how they made a difference for you
Saturday 10 February – Look for the good in others, particularly if you feel frustrated by them
Sunday 11 February – Send a note to someone who needs a boost
Monday 12 February – Focus on being kind rather than right
Jokes of the week: This week, I have gone with a Valentine’s Day, love theme for the jokes! Some of these are extra cheesy!
What did one volcano say to the other? I lava you.
Who always has a date on Valentine’s Day? A calendar.
How do you keep a jewellery store safe on Valentine’s Day? You locket.
What did the stamp say to the envelope on Valentine’s Day? I’m stuck on you.
How do astronomers propose on Valentine’s Day? They planet.
Why do air fresheners love Valentine’s Day? They’re so scent-imental.
Conversation starters:
If you could time travel, where and when would you go?
What would life be like if no one had a phone?
5 things that I am grateful for or looking forward to this week:
Can you try this simple exercise in gratitude and positivity?
- I am looking forward to the KS2 productions this week.
- I am looking forward to spending some quality time with my family over half term.
- I am looking forward to walking on the beach.
- I am grateful for the beautiful sunrises last week.
- I am grateful for Pasty snoring at my feet as I write this.
Sleeps til Santa: 322 sleeps. . .
I hope you all have a brilliant week and that you have the most amazing half term when it comes. Take time to relax, recharge and rejuvenate. Make some special memories and most importantly do what makes you happy.
With much love,
Mrs Bennett
