This half term has captured Kindness in every possible way! From the launch of our six TFA mental health posters, introduction of Kindness House tokens, launch of the TFA Kindness Postbox, and Wellbeing Challenge House competitions, these are just some examples of how Kindness has become a celebrated value in school. With some students receiving up to 45 stamps in a week for their acts of kindness, it is a fantastic testament of how thoughtful and sincere our students truly are.
Friendly February was launched with challenges for each day for both students and teachers to complete. Students enjoyed the challenge and went above and beyond to be kind and friendly in school, at home and in the community!
In addition to students being kind to one another, we spent this half term focusing on ‘being kind to ourselves.’ Working closely with the Student Leadership Team in the design process, The Farnley Academy proudly launched our mental health posters this half term. The posters were designed to remind students that support is available if they feel low, worried, or anxious about anything. With a fantastic network provided by all our staff, Inclusion team, mentors, and counselling provider, Place2Be, students have a plethora of support networks they can access whenever they need it, including the use of the ‘Tell Us’ button on our school website. Our Students Leaders launched the posters in form time, introducing each of the posters with a reminder that ‘boys need support too’, support for students who have exam stress and that ‘it’s OK not to be OK’ and to talk about it with an adult.
During Children’s Mental Health Week from 14th-18th February, students spent time being Kind to themselves. They started off the week by listing 5 things they like about themselves. Each form spent time discussing the importance of valuing their individual qualities and celebrating their individuality. Student shared this in form time and posted it in the Kindness Postbox to be displayed on our TFA Kindness Tree, next half term. During the week, students watched the Place2Be assembly with many celebrities, including Olivia Coleman, sharing the importance of expressing themselves and looking after their mental health. Throughout the week, all students participated in the Wellbeing Challenge by making time to look after their mental and physical wellbeing.
We also had a guest speaker, Paralympian basketball champion, Kayla Bell, who visited and discussed the challenges she had overcome, sharing advice with many of our students. Mrs Girling (Assistant Principal) also delivered an assembly to remind students about looking after physical, mental, and emotional health and wellbeing. As part of ‘Gorse Gets Healthy’, Mr Whitehead spent time educating students on the importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle, ensuring they are exposed to enough Vitamin D outdoors and how this has a positive impact on their mental health.
As Mindful March is upon us, we will continue to build on the importance of looking after ourselves. The Student Leadership’s Kindness Committee will also be working hard behind the scenes to celebrate all the Kind acts taking place as well as creating our TFA Kindness Tree.