Dear Families
I hope you are well. We are entering our fifth week of online learning following the Christmas break. Many thanks for all the positive feedback we have received – it is very much appreciated by all staff across the College.
This week is Children’s Mental Health Week - a week when we shine a spotlight on the importance of children and young people’s mental health. The theme of the week is “Express Yourself”.
Expressing yourself is about finding ways to share feelings, thoughts or ideas through creativity, doing things that make you and others feel good. It is important to note that we reiterate being able to express yourself is not about the best at a particular activity but about ways of finding who you are, finding your place and feeling good about yourself.
As a school, we believe that no-one should have to face mental health issues alone. We endeavour to support our pupils and staff through having a trauma informed approach to our practice and an awareness of agencies that can support our community. To mark this week, on the afternoon of Wednesday 3 February, we are going to step away from our screens and do something that makes us feel good about ourselves. We are going to offer all pupils a “menu” of activities for the afternoon which will differ for each year group.
As we are putting the screens to one side, there will be no online lessons taking place for this afternoon only. We do ask that you send us photos, videos and messages showing us what you have done during this afternoon. Pupils who are in school will choose from the “menu” of activities and they do not have to wear uniform on this day. I look forward to seeing and hearing about how our College community uses this time on Wednesday to focus on mental health and wellbeing.
Best wishes
Ms Maria Sharratt
Headteacher