This week students and staff participated in a Stress Smart activity focussing on well-being and mental health. Areas covered were, What is stress?, Stress is Normal, and Strategies for Managing Stress.

Students and staff in the Middle school area were able to share, discuss and write about experiences that they had encountered and the variety of ways that they had dealt with these situations. Deep breathing, doing a relaxing or calming activity that you enjoy - eg. riding your bike, walking your dog, cuddling your cat, colouring, drawing, drinking water, talking to someone you trust, positive thinking and using your five senses were among the many options mentioned. The activity also conveyed that Stress is not necessarily always a bad thing, that is,  it can also motivate us to get ready for 'action', but we do need to manage it.