On Thursday 8th June, students from Years 7 and 9 took part in a wellbeing workshop, funded by some of the prize money that Miss Shariff had been awarded from the Jack Petchey Foundation for her leadership and inspirational commitment to students across the school.
The workshop was delivered by the Museum of Happiness and centred on ‘Making Friends With Your Mind’. Students took part in a number of activities that supported them in better understanding their brains (e.g. biological negativity bias), emotions and behaviours (e.g. the TEAR mindset cycle) – and provided them with techniques to manage difficult feelings and intrusive thoughts, including mindfulness, self-kindness and gratitude exercises.
As part of Miss Shariff’s project, a further 20 students are set to benefit from mental health journals, which will be gifted to the school’s mentoring department. The entire school is also welcome to enjoy a selection of books, chosen by the Diversity Ambassadors, and conversation card games purchased, as well as subscriptions to the Happy News (to last the next academic year).
In the students’ own words, they found the workshop “very nice and very calming with the breathing activities”; “nice and fun to do”; “relaxing”; “calming and it made me feel happy”.
We expect the mental health journals, books and conversation card games to continue to support the students in reflecting on their emotions and experiences.
Thank you Miss Shariff!
