Mental Health Awareness Week

I’d like to say a huge thank you to everybody who was involved in Children’s Mental Health Week 2022, helping the whole Waingels community to raise awareness and understanding of mental health and difficulties.

We had a fantastic week, enjoying lots of wellbeing activities: We sang ‘Let it Go’ (and other songs) at the top of our lungs just for the fun of it – letting go of our self consciousness and inhibitions and just smiling and laughing. If this is something you enjoyed, why not have a chat to Miss Mann and give Choir a go?

Lots of students came along to take some much deserved time out for their body and mind, lying down in the darkened drama studio and enjoying some guided relaxation. There was a huge turn-out to make omelettes with our Food Department; so much so, that we may have overrun a little (oops). It was fantastic to see so many students embracing their independence and for some, enjoying an omelette for the first time – Yummy!

Our ‘Hot Chocolate and Chill’ saw students pouring in from the cold to meet some of our Peer Mentors. The African Drumming session was a lovely experience that allowed students to feel the joy of creating rhythm and enjoying the sounds of multiple drums and the Mindful Flag Colouring saw a ‘full to the brim’ geography class create some beautiful colouring to calm relaxing music.

Of course, our cake sale was an amazing success with all our donated bakes sold within a manic 15 minutes – there was not a crumb left. Id like to say a special thank you to those students that donated cakes and cookies for this. We are happy to confirm that we raised just under £100 for Place2Be, Childrens Mental Health Charity.

We really enjoyed the week and hope our students did too. If you have any concerns regarding yours or someone else’s mental health, please don’t hesitate to speak to your/ their Head of Year or Tutor, or email Wellbeing@waingels.wokingham.sch.uk.