Dear Parents and Carers

I hope you are well. We are entering our fifth week of remote learning following the Christmas break.  Many thanks for all the positive feedback we have received – it is very much appreciated by all staff across the College.

This week is Children’s Mental Health Week – a week when we shine a particular spotlight on the importance of children and young people’s mental health.

During the week we will be looking at finding ways for young people to share feelings, thoughts or ideas through creativity, and through doing things that make them and others feel good.  It is important to note that we reiterate to our children that being able to express yourself is not about being the best at a particular activity but about ways of finding who they are, finding their place and feeling good about themselves.

As a school, we believe that no-one should have to face mental health issues alone. We endeavour to support our pupils and staff through having a trauma informed approach to our practice and an awareness of agencies that can support our community.

To mark this week, on the afternoon of Wednesday 3 February, we are going to step away from our screens and encourage our pupils do something that makes them feel good about themselves.  We are going to offerall our pupils a “menu” of activities for the afternoon.  As we are putting the screens to one side, there will be no online lessons taking place for this afternoon only.

We do ask that our pupils send us photos, videos and messages showing us what they have done during this afternoon.  Pupils who are in school will also have a “menu” of activities.

I look forward to seeing and hearing about how our College community uses this time on Wednesday to focus on our mental health and wellbeing.

Kind regards

Tony Boyle

Headteacher