Mental Health Week Assembly and Swimathon Medals 12.5.17

Sciennes P4-7 Mental Health Assembly 12.5.17 from Sciennes Primary School

Celebrating a week of Mental Health awareness at Sciennes

On Friday 12th May we celebrated a week of Mental Health awareness and activities led by DHT Carolyn Anstruther, PSAs Mrs Helen Anderson and Mrs Sarah Sheehan, Staff Health and Wellbeing Working Group and Parent Council HWB Group which included some new as well as some firmly embedded strategies: Relax Kids sessions, yoga, Mindfulness, outdoor learning, Sensory Room, Seasons for Growth led by Mrs Fiona Barker and Mrs Helen Anderson, Social Thinking sessions, Nurture Groups, Emotion Talks, Happiness Is... posters, journalling and a whole school display of happiness bands. There were events for families, too, including world renowned author Nicola Morgan who gave an outstanding and very well-atttended talk "Blame My Brain" and our very own Alison Outred who gave an inspirational presentation on "The Introverted Child'. Staff enjoyed massage sessions and undertook anonymous Random Acts of Kindness with colleagues, in memory of Mark Hewitt, who introduced the project to P5 earlier in the year.

We watched a video created by parent Jimmy Chow which shows just how much work and dedication is involved in preparing our weekly fruit platters by Sciennes' Parent Council Fruit Group and explored a variety of things we can all do to maintain our mental health.



We watched a Kid President video "Life Is Like a Comic" to reflect on how things might not always be 'awesome' but our response can be. Everyone got to their feet to sing along with and do actions to Fischy Music's "Stronger" song.



James and James gave a presentation on Sciennes After School Care Club (SASCS) Holiday and Sports Camps.

James and James SASCS Summer Camps presentation

Our P7 Captains celebrated pupil achievements and Mr Neil Scott, SSO, assisted by our Sports Captains, presented this year's Swimathon medals. Thank you to Fiona Denvir and Bethan McEwan, Parent Council Health and Wellbeing Group Leads, for providing the medals and organising the event with Ms Christie. Thank you very much to all families who supported poolside and by sponsoring and encouraging.

P7 Sports Captains celebrated recent pupil achievements

Mr Neil Scott presented this year's Swimathon medals

Mental Health Foundation Survey

8th-12th May is Sciennes' Mental Health Week, led by DHT Carolyn Anstruther, Parent Council HWB Group and Staff HWB Working Group.

Sciennes' Parent Council HWB Group wishes to encourage parents and carers to complete the Mental Health Foundation's survey below:
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/your-mental-health/good-mental-health-survey

The Mental Health Foundation is a UK charity that relies on public donations and grant funding to deliver and campaign for good mental health for all.

It’s the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Week today! Ambitious as ever and hoping for an impact on a broader scale - we are looking at the state of the UK’s mental health for Mental Health Awareness Week 2017. We are now asking: are we Surviving or Thriving?
We all have the ability to thrive and having good mental health is an asset to thriving in all parts of our lives. Our new report Surviving or Thriving? - The state of the UK's mental health states that only 13% of people are living with high levels of good mental health, and two in three adults face mental health problems in their lifetime. It is time to address this nationwide problem. 

Our survey uses the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing scale to measure your general level of mental health and wellbeing. Answering the seven questions gives you a score you can compare against the national average.  The survey does not reveal whether you have a mental health problem, but your ability to cope with the everyday stresses of life. On completion we outline a number of ways you can protect and sustain good mental health. 

Mental Health House Assembly 5.5.17

 
House Assembly Mental Health 5.5.17 from Sciennes Primary School

On Friday 5th May we held Assemblies for each of our four Houses: Tantallon (Mrs Noble, Grange (Ms Anstruther), Sienna (Mr McKenna) and Lauder (Ms Gallagher) to introduce everyone to our Mental Health Week, beginning next week.

House and Sports Captains asked everyone what they thought being healthy meant and we explored not only what physical health but also what mental health means.

We sang Hopscotch Theatre's SHANARRI song and explored how we use these health and wellbeing indicators (Safe, Healthy, Achieving, Active, Respected, Responsible, Included) to help us discuss and support everyone's health at school.




We watched a video where children described their own experiences of dealing with different emotions and some strategies that can help.




We also watched Pixar's short animation "Boundin'" to help us think about having a positive mental attitude in dealing with lifes ups and downs.

We loved singing Fischy Music's "Stronger" song and doing the actions!


The winning House will have a Fun and Frolics session on the Meadows at the end of term so everyone was encouraged to keep earning House points.