The week was an opportunity for both staff and students to take a moment to focus on their wellbeing. Each day all students and staff received a well-being tip or challenge which hopefully inspired and motivated everyone to focus on their health and wellbeing throughout the week. In addition to this, students across all years had the opportunity to take part in a range of activities and presentations.

The week started with our whole school assembly which focused on the idea of resilience. All students in the Senior School wrote a tip about how they build resilience on a post-it-note which was then used to create our wellbeing wall. A wall full of helpful tips on how to help manage life’s anxieties and build resilience. Students enjoyed reading the wall as they headed to lunch every day.

Years 7, 8 and 9 had the opportunity to ask Chef Lou questions in an assembly and gained an insight into the planning and process behind our school menu. Chef Lou also launched a natural smoothie/energy drink competition for students to get involved in. She was excited to taste a range of new natural smoothies/energy drinks.

Year 7 also put on their aprons and gloves and stepped into the kitchen to learn about a range of fruits and how to correctly prepare them. As a result they created beautiful fruit cups that were enjoyed by all at break time each day.

Years 8 and 9 had Dr Anna Colton speak with them about Nutrition and Eating Disorders and Years 9 & 10 had Nurse Abi Levinson, who provided informative sessions about periods and contraception.

Years 11 and 12 were involved in sessions looking at the topics of drug awareness and empathy, and for Year 13 they focused on life after Sixth Form with the RAP Project’s session entitled ‘The Big Leap’.

Years 10 and 11 made loving Channing Origami hearts in their house colours with positive messages for students in the Junior School in form time. An activity that was much enjoyed by Years 10 and 11 who had many positive messages to help support the wellbeing of Junior School students in their houses. Pupils in the Junior School replicated the activity during their Healthy Schools Week.

All students had the opportunity to get involved in lunch time activities including lip sync/Just Dance and Zumba, which was enjoyed by all those involved.

Year 8 finished the week with a wellbeing house carousel. An opportunity for Year 8 to focus on their well-being as well as teamwork, communication skills and integration across the houses.

Dr Ellie Cannon’s webinar “Supporting Young People in the Aftermath of Lockdown” was well received and was an engaging and informative event for all those who attended. 

Wellbeing Week was rounded off in the Senior School with a DSM Foundation’s parent webinar ‘I Wish I’d Known – a workshop for parents and carers on young people, drugs and decisions’.

Hopefully, this week has inspired and motivated everyone to focus a little more on looking after their health and wellbeing, and helped to ensure that we all take some time out each day for some self care.