Mental Health and Wellbeing News

Dear Parents,

This week we began The Resilience Project lessons in our classrooms. For ease of implementation, we have divided the classes as such: Foundation with Ms Ellis, Grade 1/2 with Mrs Moore and Ms Owens, Grade 3/4 with Miss Williams and Grade 5/6 with Mr Sheedy. These lessons are timetabled and will be every Monday afternoon 1:30-2:30. The first classes were an introduction, and the students and teachers enjoyed participating in them. We looked at Gratitude, what it is and how we can incorporate it into our lives. We use GEM (gratitude, empathy and mindfulness) chat cards in the classrooms to help students understand concepts and how they experience these things in their everyday lives. This is something that can be included in conversations at home. I have included the meaning and benefits of showing gratitude, something small that can have a huge impact on our lives.

Benefits

In 21 days of practising gratitude, you rewire your brain to start scanning the world for the positives. You become three times more likely to notice a positive.

In 42 days, you:

• Are less likely to get sick.
• Have higher levels of energy.
• Feel happier.
• Are more enthusiastic.
• Are more focused.
• Are more determined.
• Are more optimistic.
• Have a better quality of sleep.
• Have lower levels of depression and anxiety.

If you would like further information or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Deb Owens

Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader