This week we have been celebrating Place2Be’s Children’s Mental Health Week and this years theme is ‘Let’s connect’ and the children have been looking at ways to connect with others, naming their trusted adults to help with their strength and resilience.
Pupils at NHP were also delighted to have author Amie Taylor visit and speak to them about her book, “The Monster Book of Feelings”. Her insightful talk helped the pupils understand their worries and feelings in a new light, and showed them how to cope with their emotions in a positive way. The pupils were captivated by Amie’s story and her relatable characters in “The Monster Book of Feelings”, and the book has since become a favourite among many of them. Amie’s visit was a highlight for the pupils and an experience they will never forget, as it has had a profound impact on their understanding and appreciation of their emotions.
We were also very fortunate to have Rachel Kelly, a keynote speaker, bestselling writer and mental health advocate in to see us at the PGB. She shared with us some of her own experiences about battling poor mental health and how the use of poetry helped her. We looked at the use of poetry together using extracts of her new book and the sophistication and challenge of a poet like Herbert and the poem ‘Love’.
Rachel commented: ‘I was profoundly moved by the brightness and engagement of the children. I salute all you are doing at the school to take well-being and emotional health seriously. If the children realise how important their mental health is at this age, they may save themselves anguish later. I only wish we had talked about feelings at my school!’
We also had a brilliant assembly singing as a whole school to ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ (supported by our wonderful staff band!). It was moving to see all of NHP coming together in support of such an important topic.
