Positivity Week inspires and creates a mental health learning experience for pupils.
The pastoral team at Westbourne House School created a week of activities which aimed to give pupils many ideas about how they can look after their mental health, react positively to challenges and be more resilient. The week tied in with this term’s thread from the Westbourne Way: perseverance.
Many of our pupils and staff are infectiously positive. We wanted to embrace this and demonstrate its importance. Our aim as a school is prepare children to face the challenges of life both now and in the future. I would hope that our pupils now have multiple ideas about how to look after themselves when things do get tricky. It was wonderful walking around the grounds and seeing the children involve themselves whole-heartedly in the activities created by our enthusiastic staff.
Sam Pollock, Head of Pastoral Care
Motivational Monday
A fitting start to Positivity Week, Motivational Monday was all about seizing opportunities and trying to fulfil your true potential. In assembly Mr Pitman talked to the children about several highly successful people including a musician, magician, newsreader and several sportspeople. The children were asked to guess the link between them: they are all Old Westbourians (ex-pupils) of course!
A break time seminar also took place on sports thinking and how to improve your mental approach to sport. It was aimed at those pupils who wanted to know more and have curiosity regarding sports learning. Mr Sutcliffe covered areas such as fear of failure, benefits and disadvantages of ego, playing to your strengths and intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.
The mind is everything. What you think, you become.
Buddha
Talented Tuesday
‘Do something you are good at’ is a key recommendation for people wanting to look after their mental health. Talented Tuesday, organised by two pupils – Phoebe and Tilly - gave many children the chance to shine. The Millennium Hall was full of cheers, encouragement, laughter and possibly tears, as the four judges - Mrs Eismark from the office, Mrs Knight from the kitchens (fondly known as Margaret to one and all) Mr Tyrell and Mr Brown - each took turns to comment on the acts. Mrs Sleep was compere and she introduced each act and discussed comments from the judges.
And the winners were…
In the Year 3 and 4 category, William Dodd was the winner, confidently playing banjo and singing. He beat stiff competition from a sketch ‘on the beach,’ and two dance groups performing ‘Walk like an Egyptian’, and ‘Bollywood’.
William’s older sister Annabelle Dodd won the Year 5-6 category with her angelic singing, seeing off a comedy magic act, as well as other singing groups.
Tallulah Partridge and Imogen Marley’s beautiful duet beat all comers in the Year 7-8 category, including a lively performance from ‘the Spice Girls’.
Also on Talented Tuesday, Alicia Drummond, a qualified counsellor and parent coach from ‘Teen Tips’, ran a work shop for Years 7 and 8 on managing anxiety, as well as presenting to parents on the same topic in the evening.
Wellness Wednesday
On Wellness Wednesday, we concentrated on activities that can give you a dose of mood magic and help you manage how you are feeling. There were extremely exciting break time workshops in yoga with Niki Perry, smoothie making in food tech, the chance to stretch your legs on a dog walk with Mrs Anderson, aerobics with Mrs Sutcliffe, mindfulness with Mr Pitman and animal therapy thanks to a visit from a gorgeous miniature horse. The Pre-Prep also improved their health and happiness when they enjoyed yoga sessions with Mrs Kicks.
Thumbs Up Thursday
Mr Cousens, along with the newly formed Positivity Committee, put on a show for the whole school for Thumbs Up Thursday. After the more serious elements of assembly had taken place, the committee got everyone on their feet for a dance… much to the surprise of our French year 5 visitors!
At the end of assembly, our Year 7 children presented our Year 2 children with homemade fortune cookies, complete with an inspirational and positive message inside.
Thursday was also our dress up day for charity, which was themed ‘When I grow up, I want to be...’. It was a good reminder for the children that we can make a positive impact by supporting others. We also talked about how giving our time to others can make us feel good. We hope that the funds raised will help the beneficiaries of our local, national and global charities be who they want to be as well. In the Pre-Prep, the children dressed up as super teachers, authors, vets, doctors, sporting people and the odd unicorn! In the Prep School, we had conservationists, cowgirls and ski instructors amongst many.
Feel Good Friday
It was the return of the disco in both the Pre-Prep and Prep School after the fun and success of the lunchtime disco on International Happiness Day. Pupils gathered outside in the sunshine for a boogie and sing along, which definitely left everyone’s spirits soaring!
