Freemen's Wellbeing Week Monday 14 May - Friday 18 May
What is Wellbeing? The World Health Organisation defines it as:
"Having positive wellbeing is when an individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community." Mental wellbeing describes your mental state - how you are feeling and how well you can cope with day-to-day life. Our mental wellbeing is dynamic. It can change from moment to moment, day to day, month to month or year to year.
The Wellbeing Programme Over the next couple of years Freemen’s is developing a wellbeing curriculum that will help pupils to understand their emotions and how to manage them. This will equip them with the skills to navigate life and the difficulties that come with that. The programme will start with Junior School pupils and help them to understand why they feel the way they do and show them the importance of all our emotions, even negative ones. The curriculum will build on this and give the pupils skills to challenge their beliefs to stop them from over-analysing and believing mistruths. Many different techniques will be presented to the pupils, such as yoga, mindfulness, ABC model, the worry tree and the aim is for them to leave Freemen’s with a toolbox of strategies to help them to be resilient, confident and kind young people. This has been trialled with the Upper 5 pupils this year and will be rolled out to other year groups next year. This year we introduced Upper School Wellbeing Prefects that have been running the Junior School Haven. This space is for Junior School pupils to go at lunch time to have some time out and time to reflect. The Upper 5 did a fantastic job at starting up the Haven this year and we are currently in the process of selecting the Head Wellbeing Prefect Team and training the Lower 5 to take over. Sophie Blair Head of Upper School
Wellbeing at Freemen's Next week Freemen’s will be raising awareness for, and taking part in, the National Mental Health Awareness Week (14 -20 May). I am pleased to write to you to inform you of the many activities your child will be able to take advantage of during this week. Our aim is for the pupils to develop and further their approaches to wellbeing for the future, whilst also opening up a strong dialogue surrounding the topic of mental health. As you may be aware, this year Freemen’s has gone to great lengths to provide a strong foundation for pupil’s mental health and wellbeing. But it doesn’t end there – as the Head of Wellbeing I hope that this week is another step towards strengthening our approaches to a greater sense of wellbeing which is sustainable for our students’ futures. But it isn’t all about the career pathways, and academics - wellbeing is so much more. More than ever our pupils are under pressure to be switched on and connected at all times, and with that comes the everyday stresses, if I may be so bold, that we did not experience, or have to manoeuvre around when we were growing up. Never before has a child been so exposed to the world we live in, than the students I teach in the classroom today. It is no surprise that Mental Health Awareness Week is now a firmer fixture on calendars around the UK and beyond. It is organised by the Mental Health Foundation, and focuses on major issues each year. It is also true, for some, that the wellbeing provisions available to our youngsters today are not consistent across schools and colleges. I am pleased that at Freemen’s we have a strong provision over the mindfulness, wellbeing and positive mental health of the children and young adults under our care. I am proud of the work Freemen’s and the wellbeing committee have done this year, not only in responding to the Government Green Paper Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Provision, but in their proactive delivery of a wellbeing programme for students at all Key stages. This has had a huge impact and is meaningful for the pupils who have engaged with it. I am pleased to work for an institute that puts the wellbeing of pupils at the forefront of their education and produces resilient, happy and successful individuals for the future. Jo Warburton - Head of Wellbeing
What is Impacting the Wellbeing of our Youth Today? Simon Sinek’s interesting view on what is impacting the wellbeing of Millennials that is worth a watch - watch here. Screen time – The HMC and Digital Awareness UK have produced this video on digital addiction to help support parents and children to use digital devices responsibly - watch here. Look Up – a video to show the importance of looking up from our phones and connecting with people – this was shown to Upper 4 and Lower 5 this week - watch here. The following two videos give a real insight into how people may feel and what to do if you are supporting someone with depression: • Understanding depression - watch here. • Living with someone who has depression - watch here.
Tips to Improve Wellbeing
1
Exercise
This releases reward and pleasure chemicals in the brain.
2
Be Kind to Others
This lifts us out of worrying about ourselves.
3
Be Open
Avoid excessive judgement or criticism.
4
Connect with Others
Take time to be with other people; avoid lazy texts, emails and messages.
5
Develop Distractions
Find ways of distracting yourself from difficult emotions, like watching a funny YouTube clip.
6
Dispute Negative Thinking
Look for evidence against inaccurate/ inflexible beliefs.
7
Nature
Being in nature can help us realise that difficult emotions are transient.
8
Less Device Time
Spend time away from the demands of communication and social media which may distort reality.
9
Try Mindfulness
Use the app Headspace. Shift from doing/ planning to experiencing/sensing. Step out of judgement.
10
Savour the Good & Play to Your Strengths
Notice the good things in your life and take time to really enjoy and appreciate them.
Junior School Timetable Monday 14 May 2018
Assembly Upper 2
Tuesday 15 May 2018
Lunchtime: Lower 5 Wellbeing Prefects to run lunchtime clubs in the Junior School. Clubs to include origami, breathing and stretching, mindful colouring.
Wednesday 16 May 2018
Breaktime: Medical team available outside tuck shop with advice. Lunchtime: 1.15pm - Lower 6 pupils playing with the Junior Pupils and running activities outside.
Thursday 17 May 2018
Assembly Upper 2 Wellbeing Hub Lunch activities: Juniors' Video room watching Inside Out, Drama therapy, Art Therapy, Story time for the young ones, Library facilities for quiet time. Upper 4 around to talk to pupils in Lower 4.
Upper 4 Timetable Monday 14 May 2018
Screen time diaries for the week STEM Day - All day
Tuesday 15 May 2018
Tutor time: Guided Meditation 4.15 – 5.15pm: Yoga session for Upper 4 (sign-up sheet)
Wednesday 16 May 2018
Breaktime: Medical team available outside tuck shop with advice Lunchtime talk: Having perspective: A refugees point of view – Mrs Edwards
Thursday 17 May 2018
7.30am – 8.15am: Morning swim session for non-squad swimmers 7.30am – 8.15am: Physical Wellbeing: fitness session with Mr McKee Assembly HOY: Wellbeing Pupils to help in the Junior School Philosophy Society Talk: “I am who I am”: Knowing God, being well. 4.15pm – 5.15pm: Zumba for Upper School Pupils after School
Friday 18 May 2018
Haywood Centre as a Wellbeing Hub/ Café for lunchtime. (Available for Senior School, Upper School and Sixth Form pupils). U4, L5 and L6 to bring in cakes to share with each other (please be aware of allergies and no nuts must be used). Careers advice, seminars on wellbeing, mindfulness and meditation rooms, Drama therapy, Art therapy, Medical Centre staff around to offer support/advice, stalls on where to get help, Library facilities for quiet time, cake and juice available.
Lower 5 Timetable Monday 14 May 2018
Screen time diaries for the week Assembly on Mental Health & Wellbeing – Mrs Edney
Tuesday 15 May 2018
Tutor time: Guided Meditation Wellbeing Prefects to help in Junior School 4.15pm – 5.15pm: Yoga session for Lower Five (Sign-up sheet)
Wednesday 16 May 2018
Breaktime: Medical team available outside tuck shop with advice Lunchtime talk: Having perspective: A refugees point of view – Mrs Edwards
Thursday 17 May 2018
7.30am – 8.15am: Morning swim session for non-squad swimmers 7.30am – 8.15am: Physical Wellbeing: fitness session with Mr McKee Assembly HOY: Wellbeing Pupils to help in the Junior School Philosophy Society talk: “I am who I am”: Knowing God, being well. 4.15pm - 5.15pm: Zumba for Upper School Pupils after School
Friday 18 May 2018
Haywood Centre as a Wellbeing Hub/ Café for lunchtime. (Available for Senior School, Upper School and Sixth Form pupils). U4, L5 and L6 to bring in cakes to share with each other (please be aware of allergies and no nuts must be used). Careers advice, seminars on wellbeing, mindfulness and meditation rooms, Drama therapy, Art therapy, Medical Centre staff around to offer support/advice, stalls on where to get help, Library facilities for quiet time, cake and juice available.
Sixth Form Timetable Monday 14 May 2018
Assembly slot: Mrs Stewart
Tuesday 15 May 2018
7.30am – 8.15am: Morning swim session for non-squad swimmers Tutor time: Mental Health questionnaire
Wednesday 16 May 2018
Breaktime: Medical team available outside tuck shop with advice Lunchtime talk: Having perspective: A refugees point of view – Mrs Edwards
Thursday 17 May 2018
7.30am – 8.15am: Physical Wellbeing: fitness session with Mr McKee Assembly HOY: Wellbeing Guided meditation in Tutor time Pupils to help in the Junior School Philosophy Society talk: “I am who I am”: Knowing God, being well. 4.15pm – 5.15pm : Yoga for Sixth Form (sign-up sheet)
Friday 18 May 2018
Haywood Centre as a Wellbeing Hub/ Café for lunchtime. (Available for Senior School, Upper School and Sixth Form pupils). U4, L5 and L6 to bring in cakes to share with each other (please be aware of allergies and no nuts must be used). Careers advice, seminars on wellbeing, mindfulness and meditation rooms, Drama therapy, Art therapy, Medical Centre staff around to offer support/advice, stalls on where to get help, Library facilities for quiet time, cake and juice available.