Making KSA SMILE on Well-being Wednesday.

Pupil well-being is always high on the agenda at King’s St Alban’s. Over the coming weeks, the well-being of King’s St Alban’s pupils will be taken even further, launching a brand new school-wide focus on well-being, enabling pupils and staff alike to continue to thrive both in school and at home. Central to this new focus is our MAKING KSA SMILE ethos, which involves equipping all of our pupils with the knowledge and skills to S.M.I.L.E!

S: Stay Connected

M: Move and keep active

I: Inspire and give to others

L: Look and take notice

E: Enjoy and keep learning

Starting as we mean to go on, this week’s Well-being Wednesday activity involved sharing an energetic dance in form time. Pupils (and teachers!) connected through the power of movement: they challenged their bodies and minds to learn the Cha Cha Slide! Younger pupils turned into Dance Monkeys with the help of Zumba. Beaming smiles and boosted endorphins filled lively classrooms and corridors before morning lessons began.

Making KSA S.M.I.L.E involves helping children to learn how to look after their own well-being. By taking part in a wide range of activities focussing on what makes us feel happy, safe and comfortable, even young children soon become aware that we can choose certain activities to improve our experience of positive emotions. Future Well-being Wednesday activities include zen drawing for calmness, being outside for contentment and expressing gratitude for fulfilment. As part of our weekly programme, there will also be more reflective sessions about how to control worries and strategies to deal with stress and reduce anxieties. Boosting self esteem and building individual confidence will enable children to feel comfortable when faced with life’s challenges both inside and outside of the classroom. The King’s warmth celebrates the diversity of children’s interests and talents.

King’s St Alban’s has proudly called itself a “Growth Mindset” school for many years. During this time, we have adopted the principles of Carol Dweck and embraced them across the curriculum. Children are encouraged to develop curiosity, determination and perseverance; taking risks in Forest School and PE is as important as developing flexibility and focus in Maths and Science. Originally intended to intertwine effort and academic learning power, we have recently moved towards using growth mindset principles to increase awareness of how to look after our mental health. Year 5 children will soon start our very successful Paws b mindfulness programme and our new mindful ambassadors will receive training next week. Leadership roles form a valuable part of self-esteem and well-being.

New routines are quickly established at the beginning of any new school year. Every Wednesday at King’s St Alban’s will start by making KSA S.M.I.L.E.