12th May 2023
HEADLINES
By James SaundersMENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK
Next week is Mental Health Awareness Week
A week that highlights the importance of taking care of our minds. Prevention is at the heart of taking care of our mental health. Addressing the sources of mental health problems so that people and communities can thrive is always the best approach to take rather than a reactive one, which can sometimes be too late. This year’s theme is anxiety.
Anxiety is a normal emotion in us all, and is not necessarily always a sign of mental health issues. However, sometimes it can get out of control and become a mental health problem. Lots of things can lead to feelings of anxiety, including exam pressures, relationships, starting a new job (or losing one) or other big life events. We can also get anxious when it comes to things to do with money and not being able to meet our basic needs, like heating our home or buying food.
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health problems we can face. In a recent mental health survey carried out around stress, anxiety and hopelessness over personal finances, a quarter of adults said they felt so anxious that it stopped them from doing the things they want to do some or all of the time. Six in ten adults feel this way, at least some of the time. On a positive note, anxiety can be made easier to manage.
By focusing on anxiety for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week it is hoped that there will be an increase in people’s awareness and understanding of anxiety by providing information on the things that can help prevent it from becoming a problem.
As parents and carers, there are ways you can support your children to give them the best chance to stay mentally healthy. Encouraging and guiding a child to think about their own mental health and wellbeing are vital skills you can teach them from a young age.
WAYS TO SUPPORT A CHILD OR YOUNG PERSON
Be there to listen
Regularly ask your child how they’re doing, to help them get used to talking about their feelings, and know there’s always someone there to listen. You can get tips on Young Minds: How to talk to your child about mental health.
Support them through difficulties
Pay attention to how your child is feeling or behaving and try to help them work through difficulties. It may not be easy facing challenging behaviour, but try to help them understand what they’re feeling and why. Learn more from the Maudsley Charity on difficult behaviour.
Stay involved in their life
Show interest in their life and what’s important to them. It not only helps them value who they are but also makes it easier for you to spot problems and support them.
Encourage their interests
Support and encourage your child to explore their interests. Being active or creative, learning new things and being a part of a team helps connect us and boost our mental wellbeing.
Take what they say seriously
Listening to and valuing what they say makes them feel valued. Consider how to help them work through their emotions in constructive ways. Anna Freud Centre’s guide on ways to support children and young people has more on this.
Build positive routines
Try to have structure around regular routines, especially around healthy eating and exercise. A good night’s sleep is also important, so have a fixed time for going to bed and getting up. The Sleep Charity has relaxation sleep tips for children.
Have a good weekend.
James SaundersSix Ways to Cope With Feelings of Anxiety
SLOW DOWN YOUR BREATHING GO OUTSIDE
GO TO BED AT THE SAME TIME EVERDAY
CONNECT WITH OTHERS
Feeling anxious?
You’re not alone.
GET ACTIVE
USE THE FREE CLEAR FEAR APP
How can I get support from the Mental Health Support Team?
Talk to the designated mental health lead in your school
Former learner update:
We are incredible proud of our former learner George Burmby (who left us in July 2020) who took part in the King’s Coronation last weekend with the Grenadier Guards, as a commonwealth standard bearer. He is currently in training for the trooping of the colour in June. Well done George!
A huge congratulations
Jonathan Hardington who, following Essex elections had been appointed to the Young Essex Assembly (YEA). This is a wonderful achievement. The results were announced a couple of weeks ago and he is thrilled to be elected to represent Chelmsford. Last week he chaired his first full YEA sitting and will soon join one of the committees as part of his role. He intends to use his term to help schools be more inclusive of disabilities. Being part of the YEA he will gain important life skills and have an opportunity to bring change in the wider community. Well done!
Earlier this year we welcomed ten children from Afghanistan to our school community. On Tuesday, they went on a trip to London to see our capital city and visit the Natural History Museum. They had a fantastic day and the weather held for their time there. Experiencing travel by train, the London underground and the sites of London are all new experiences for them. Thank you to Mr Smith and Mrs Bansropun for supporting their day in London.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
What a performance!
On the 10th May the Shakespeare Drama club showcased to their parents and carers their own version of A Midsummer Night's Dream. We started by discussing how physically exploring a Shakespearian play they would feel more confident not only with their performance skills but also when approaching GCSE English. We looked at his life, some of his other works and learnt just how much vocabulary he added to the English language. The group then took part in some drama games and finished by performing a 30 minute version of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
The group were brilliant. It is a hard task to learn lines for a play, especially a Shakespearian one, adding on top of that Iambic pentameter!
A huge well done also to Cohort 11’s Crystal Williams and James Boyd, who helped run rehearsals and arrange the performance. Their commitment was a key part of the success of the evening. They should be proud of how professionally they helped to lead this.
Well done to the cast:
Alex Gray
Beth Whitehead
Charley Omondi
Charlie Engelbrecht
Chloe Dumbrell
Darci Marangou
Freya Hutchinson
Isabel Harvey
Keira Martin
Liam Smith
Mary McLeod
Matilda Moxham
William Gorton
C8 HPV VACCINATIONS
The C8 HPV vaccinations are due to take place in school on Monday 22nd May 2023.
The electronic consent form has been sent out to all C8 parents/carers via email. The Immunisation Team have asked us to remind you to complete the electronic consent form for your child no later than 3pm on Thursday 18th May 2023. The form needs to be completed to consent or not consent to the vaccination.
Essex County Council (in collaboration with Essex Family Forum) are delighted to announce that we are the Regional Hub for the East of England for Autism Central. This is a new programme, co-designed to provide high-quality and accessible autism informati on, education and coaching for families, and carers, and co-delivered by autistic people, families and carers. Autism Central has been commissioned by NHS England’s Workforce, Training and Education Team and is delivered nationally by nine notfor-profit organisations
Essex County Council are now recruiting Peer Educators who are families or carers of autistic people and/or autistic themselves. Peer Educators will be trained to coach, signpost and share their learning with other parents and carers of autistic people. This is a paid position of £20 an hour or £140 a day.
Delivered in a variety of ways, including group and individual sessions, the focus will be on meeting the needs of autistic people and their families and on signposting for access to local and national services. Sessions will be delivered in ways that suit local carers, either in person or online.
Are you interested in becoming a peer educator? We are keen to find people who: -
• are family members, partners/spouses of an autistic person or are an autistic person
• have a good understanding of autism and how to support autistic people
• motivated to coach, educate and support other families and carers
• able and willing to learn new skills
• live in the East of England
• are 18+ years old
If you are interested in becoming a Peer Educator, please get in touch/apply by visiting Peer Education Programme
Essex County Council in collaboration with Essex Family Forum
Honywood is taking part in the Coggeshall Scarecrow Trail in support of the friends of St Peters Primary School. To support this community activity our learners are busy making a scarecrow. Residents of Coggeshall make scarecrows and put them outside their homes. Then with the help of a map go and find them. It takes place over half term.
Dates for the Diary
Mon 15th May - 20th June C11 GCSE Exams taking place
Thurs 18th May C10 Geography Visit to Norfolk Coast
Fri 19th May C10 Learner Leadership Deadline
Mon 22nd May Super League Netball Visit (eve)
Mon 22nd May C8 HPV Vaccinations - consent required
Fri 26th May C11 Leavers Celebrations
Mon 29th May to Fri 2nd June May Half Term
Tues 6th June Pre-residential meetings for parents/careers
Tues 6th June Dance Trip to the Mercury
Thurs 8th June C10 Parents’ Evening