By Mrs Thomas (Year 3 Teacher)

This week across the Junior School we have been celebrating Children's Mental Health Week. This year's theme, Your Voice Matters, has provided a powerful platform to emphasise the importance of mental wellbeing. The week’s aims and activities began with a super assembly delivered by all Student Voice Members where they highlighted what mental health is, why it is important and top tips for looking after our mental health, as well as all the ways we can use our unique and individual voices positively to express feelings, thoughts and ideas. 

The theme, Your Voice Matters resonated throughout the week as we worked towards empowering our pupils to use their voices confidently. Pupils eagerly participated in a range of lunchtime activities aimed at promoting mindfulness, relaxation, and self-expression. These activities were open to all classes and were met with enthusiasm and joy. Pupils engaged in therapeutic colouring sessions, allowing them to express themselves through art while practising mindfulness. A calming and connecting activity, partner hand massages provided a soothing break during the day, promoting relaxation and a sense of community. Guided stretching exercises helped students release tension and improve their physical wellbeing, contributing to a more relaxed state of mind. And finally, an energetic dance session encouraged the girls to express themselves through movement, promoting a healthy outlet for stress and building a positive connection between physical and mental health. 

This week, across all classes in the Junior School, we aimed to cultivate an environment where every student felt heard, understood, and empowered to express their thoughts and feelings.  We aim to always foster an atmosphere where everyone in our school community continues to feel valued, heard, and empowered and feels equipped with a range of strategies to look after our mental health.