Feeling Good at Fearnhill
All throughout the week beginning Monday, 10th February everyone here at Fearnhill took part in the Hertfordshire wide ‘Feeling Good Week‘.
The purpose of the week? To boost the emotional and mental wellbeing of our students and staff by running a series of special events and activities and to inform where support and help can be accessed within the wider community.
The result here at Fearnhill? An absolutely fantastic and positive week for all our students and staff many of whom participated in activities they had not done before.
Most of the events took place during tutor time and lunchtime. All the events were based on the ‘5 Ways to Wellbeing’ framework which was developed by the New Economics Foundation as a set of five evidence based actions that promote well-being. These five ways are: Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning and Give. We hope that the wide range of activities we offered to students and staff covered all these ‘ways’!
On Monday, Sixth Former, Christina, taught a large group of curious students Russian. Meanwhile Ms Ellis was instructing another group in the basic steps of Salsa dancing.
On Tuesday, two of our Sixth Formers, Mia and Ciara, taught a large group sign language whilst Mrs Clifton was allowing students to go wild and crazy with paint in the Art Department.
On Wednesday, Mrs Landsman taught a group of very enthusiastic students, staff and one of our governors the ukulele. It was lovely watching them play ‘Don’t Worry, Be Happy’ by Bob Marley!
One of the most popular activities of the whole week took place on Thursday; dodgeball. It was very exciting to watch students of all ages competing together.
The last day saw the entire school community wearing their own clothes in exchange for a donation of £1 which went to the NSPCC. At lunchtime Mrs Clifton taught a group of students the art of origami.
Running each day was the ‘Wellbeing Garden Project’, organised by Mrs Burgess, where a group of keen student gardeners, Mrs Burgess and Ms Brooks started to tackle the school’s wildlife pond area. Also running each day was ‘Just Connect’ in the Library. This gave students of all ages the opportunity to chat and play games with our Sixth Form Prefects.
The PE Department took up the challenge of covering the Be Active ‘way’ by organising a physical activity for each lunchtime. Students and staff took part in a couple of one mile walks, a cross country race as well as the dodgeball. On the last day the whole school came together for a one mile walk around the site.
We are absolutely delighted that students and staff really made the most of the week by engaging with everything on offer to them. It was great to see everyone enjoying spending time together, learning new skills and hopefully a few new friendships and interests were formed. It was a super way to end the first half of the Spring Term and hopefully everyone was ‘Feeling Good’ throughout the half term holiday!
Mr Baker
Assistant Headteacher