School_Matters_Issue_34

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NOW AND BEYOND: CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH WEEK IPS was delighted to team up with Mental Health Charity Now and Beyond to run a series of events for Children’s Mental Health Week. A session for Senior 7 and 8 pupils taken by Ruth Simmonds of the Mental Health Foundation explained what mental health is, what the risks to it are, and gave advice about how best to look after our mental health and wellbeing. Shah Alam led a Relaxation and Mindfulness class for pupils in Senior 9 and 10. This was a practical and experiential workshop in which participants were guided through exercises to practise and apply in their day-to-day lives. Kooth.com is a free online mental health and wellbeing resource. Kooth offered all pupils from S7–UVI a Stress and Anxiety workshop and explained the core features of Kooth’s service. A key focus of the session was the impact the Covid-19 restrictions had had on pupils’ mental wellbeing. There were rave reviews from our Sixth Form on their session with Dave Chawner, an award-winning stand-up comedian, author and mental health campaigner. Dave gave a hugely entertaining talk on his battle with anorexia. I appreciate that the word ‘entertaining’ is seldom used to describe a talk on a serious mental illness, but in this instance I can vouch for its appropriateness. Dave dealt with some very serious issues, but his approach was refreshing, informative and he challenged all who were present to “celebrate good” in their lives. WELLBEING HOUR

A ‘thought cloud’ produced by Senior 7 and 8 pupils

Whilst appreciating the contributions of our external speakers, we were also highly impressed by the ‘Wellbeingcast’ produced by members of the editorial team of our pupil magazine, ‘The Wall’. This was its first foray into the world of podcasts, but you wouldn’t have known this given its professional polish. Thank you: Cassius Ashcroft, Millie Bates, Evie Buckley, Emma Cortinovis, Izzy Galione, Hannah Harvey, Leonie Hay, Leo Hincks, Yeva Kebabdjian, Arthur Mellor, Ella Moloney, Ella Peters, Trinity Riad and Rosie Wright. Well done to the whole IPS community for throwing themselves wholeheartedly into the week. I look forward to developing our wellbeing programme further over the months ahead. Mr J-D Price, Deputy Head (Pastoral)

Olivia Daniels, UVI

In the 'Wellbeing Hour' initiative for UVI, our most senior pupils were encouraged to take time away from their studies and spend an hour focusing on their wellbeing. I was so impressed with the variety of activities pupils involved themselves in from baking to cooking, reading to jewellery design, music making to pond watching and other pet projects. We’re so proud of the UVI for taking the initiative to look after themselves during this challenging period. Ms Rachel Palmer, Head of Sixth Form