Wellbeing Update May 2016 – Review of 2015/2016

First year of a ‘Wellbeing Programme’ in the school

Different initiatives throughout the year such as:

Dance – Operation Transformation

Table Tennis

Walk On Wednesday

Doodle Club

Gymnastics Club

Outdoor activities – skipping and Frisbee

Boxercise

First ‘Wellbeing Week’ took place (Monday 25th – Friday 29th April). Positive feedback received from both students and staff. Different types of activities were organised for each day of the week both before and after school. These activities were:

A Céilí

A Photo Booth

Early morning Walk On Wednesday

Fun Outdoor Activities

Prayerful Morning Meditation

Creation of a ‘Thumbs Up for Wellbeing’ Mural

‘Morning Mash Up’ – early morning disco

The ‘My Youth Friends’ programme was piloted amongst our 1st year students. We were unable to complete the programme due to time constraints so it was decided to continue the programme in 2nd year with these students.

After attending the NCCA Student Voice Forum on Wellbeing in Dublin Castle on March 16th, the students have expressed an interest to develop a Student Voice Committee in St. Mary’s College. The students will meet in September to decide the best way to move forward with this project.

Six teachers attended a professional development course in Wellbeing on Friday 27th and Saturday 28th May 2016. This course was called ‘Ways to Wellbeing’ and it is a course in Wellbeing designed for senior cycle students. It is hoped that the 6 teachers who attended this course will be 5th year tutors next year and roll out this course with their students.

It is hoped that for 2016/2017 there will be the introduction of ‘Wellbeing Leaders’ in the school. These leaders will be 6th year students and will contribute to the design, delivery and improvement of the ‘Wellbeing Programme’ in the school. It has come to the attention of teachers that there are a number of students in the school who find lunchtimes very difficult and joining activities does not come naturally to them. It is hoped that the Wellbeing leaders will help with this problem and develop ways to ensure that we are helping and encouraging all of our students to get involved in different aspects of school life.

After attending a number of professional development course days and conferences on Wellbeing and meeting teachers from different schools, it was seen that St. Mary’s College have made a great start this year in catering for the Wellbeing of their students. This was the first year of a ‘Wellbeing Programme’ in the school and whilst there are areas for improvement it was a successful year in many ways. Going forward it is important that we have a strong leadership team in Wellbeing, consisting of both staff and students, who are passionate about it and believe in its importance. I believe that this will ensure the continuation and improvement of the ‘Wellbeing Programme’ here in St. Mary’s College.