Wellbeing promotion is a fundamental focus in our school and we are committed to promoting positive wellbeing throughout our school community. We understand the importance of maintaining a positive wellbeing and the role it plays in creating an environment where all are healthy, happy and achieve their best. Wellbeing has been our School Self Evaluation focus for the past three years and as such, wellbeing promotion is at ‘the core of the ethos of our school’ and we endeavour to embed whole school practices which promote a culture of wellbeing.

Each month we now have a wellbeing focus in school. The student council helps promote our theme each month, through whole school announcements  & class visits.

Wellbeing Committee 2023-2024

This year’s Wellbeing Committee 2023-34

2nd class: Malcolm & Iris
3rd: Thomas & Caoimhe & Rian
4th: Ava-Jane & Harry – Will also represent 1st class
5th: Nova & Odharna  – will also represent Senior Infants
6th: Cormac & Tom – will also represent Junior Infants

Our Wellbeing Committee had a discussion about what well wellbeing means to them and they came up with some lovely ideas:
Having fun together, having friends to play with, being happy & knowing that if I’m sad it’s okay, knowing how to manage and control your feelings, exercising & getting enough sleep, eating the right food.

The Committee are sharing what wellbeing means with each class, in a child-friendly, way so that everyone knows what wellbeing means. Here is the message they are sharing: 

• Wellbeing is present when a person realises their potential (how wonderful you are!)
• Wellbeing is present when a person is resilient in dealing with the normal stresses of their life (keeps on trying even when things are hard and can cope with and manage big feeling you don’t like.)
• Wellbeing is present when a person takes care of their physical wellbeing (exercises regularly, getting enough sleep & eats nutritious food to keep your heart and body healthy.)
• Wellbeing is present when a person feels like they belong, and good relationships with other people (has friends to play with.)
• We have to continue working on our wellbeing all the time, throughout our lives. We can support each other’s wellbeing too, by being kind to each other and helping each other through hard times.

Our Wellbeing Committee Reps are now in the process of getting some feedback from each class, focusing on what we are doing well in school to support pupil’s wellbeing and some suggestions on what we could do to improve pupils’ wellbeing. 

Wellbeing Week 2023

Here at GETNS, we endeavour to promote mental health in the classroom, to teach children about wellbeing and to instill positive attitudes towards mental health in our pupils. While well-being activities are integrated into the school day throughout the year, we take some extra time to highlight the importance of wellbeing during this special week.

The aim of this week is to foster positive mental health and wellbeing in our wider school community. Our student wellbeing committee visited each classroom to get some ideas from pupils for our Wellbeing Week and each classes voted on how they would like to mark our fundraising day, as part of the Amber Flag initiative we are working towards. A pyjamas day was the clear winner!

As part of our Wellbeing Week, children have no homework for the week. We have a Wellbeing menu here in case pupils choose to practice some optional wellbeing activities at home. Alternatively you may like to just spend this week as a family engaging in any enjoyable activities of your choice that enhance your physical and mental health.

We would like to take this opportunity to remind our whole school community to prioritise your wellbeing too and  try to take some extra time this week to focus on what makes you feel happy & supports your own wellbeing. Have some well earned ‘me’ time and prioritise your own self-care. 

Please find some resources to support parent wellbeing below:

1. Bernardos – Wellbeing for Parents
2. Mental Health Podcasts and Apps
3. Mental Health Resources