19 minute read

WELLBEING

Wellbeing is something of a buzzword in schools, on social media, in the news, and in public policy; and rightly so — there is a proliferation of studies demonstrating how our mental and physical health are intimately linked, and the ways in which they affect our outlook and ability to function and flourish each day. Yet, simultaneously, wellbeing is a nebulous concept: what exactly is wellbeing, and what does it look like to effectively support and promote the wellbeing of the young people in our care? We all experience periods of low mood as well as times when we feel that our wellbeing is excellent. Therefore, at St Leonards, we are committed to equipping young people with the skills to navigate these ups and downs and the self-awareness to know when and what action to take to help themselves or, indeed, to seek support from others. Our wellbeing is shaped by a whole range of emotional, social, physical, financial, and medical factors, and so our approach to wellbeing at St Leonards reflects this. School life offers a wide range of challenges which allow for gradual exposure to everyday stresses and strains, and our goal is not to stop our pupils falling or failing, but rather to support them as they get up and go again. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach, but rather we tailor our provision to the unique needs of each child and encourage them to reflect on how they are feeling and to communicate this to staff and their families at home – this collaboration is important and incredibly powerful. There is no doubt that the pandemic has had an adverse effect on the wellbeing of children and adults across the country; its legacy will continue in the months and years ahead. The headlines say it all: a rise in mental health issues amongst young people; increased wait times for child and adult mental health services; and the onslaught of a mental health epidemic. At St Leonards, we do our utmost to support the pupils through the highs and lows of life at school, but our duty of care does not stop here. Perhaps even more importantly, we seek to build mental resilience and to equip the children and teenagers in our care with the tools and strategies to look after their own wellbeing in the years to come – in other words, to be able to weather the storms that life will inevitably throw at them. With all this in mind, at St Leonards, wellbeing pervades all that we do as a school community: it shapes our policies, pastoral care, teaching and learning, and programme of cocurricular activities. We encourage pupils of all ages to connect, give, take notice, keep learning and be active — all of which are widely known to benefit wellbeing. I hope that you enjoy reading more about these key pillars which form the basis of our wellbeing provision in the pages that follow. Andrew Durward, Deputy Head (wellbeing)

St Leonards is a listening community: we encourage pupils to voice their feelings, thoughts and emotions, and, in doing so, to work through situations and scenarios which may be troubling them. We believe that a problem shared is a problem halved, and our classroom teachers, tutors, school nurses, residential house staff, wellbeing assistants and Heads of Year have their doors open and are always ready to be a listening ear and to provide support. We also encourage our pupils to connect with nature and to regularly get fresh air - you can read more about our new Wellbeing Hub and this year’s Outdoor Learning highlights in the pages that follow.

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The Hub

At the start of this academic year, we opened the Wellbeing Hub: a bright and airy space where pupils can drop in for advice, support, or simply some time out. There are a variety of grounding activities on offer – mindful colouring, fidget toys, Lego, jigsaws and more – as well as highly-experienced Wellbeing Assistants who are there to offer a listening ear and to connect the pupils with wider support networks if appropriate. This has been an invaluable addition to our wellbeing provision, and we look forward to building upon this resource in the months and years ahead. “Our aim is to support pupils and their mental wellbeing by providing a space where they can take time out to find that little bit more energy, determination, acceptance, common sense, kindness, concentration, joy and resilience, and to help them develop strategies to deal with life in all its brilliant diversity.” Helen Reaper, Wellbeing Assistant Mentors in Violence Prevention

“Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) is an exciting new initiative at St Leonards which encourages our young people to challenge harmful attitudes and cultural norms in our society, equipping them to be active bystanders who stand up for what is right. This year, over 30 students in Years 12 and 13 received training from Graham Gouldon, an experienced and committed leadership and violence prevention trainer who was previously a Scottish police officer and Chief Investigator, which focused upon leadership, victim blaming, the scope of violence and gender stereotypes. Having been trained up, the MVP reps then worked with every class from Years 7-11 on a weekly basis to explore realistic scenarios and to discuss possible ways to react and respond. We have already seen the positive impact of this initiative around the campus, with pupils ‘calling out’ poor behaviour and ‘calling in’ their friends when they know that it is the right thing to do, ensuring that our school community continues to be an inclusive and caring environment.” Paul Shiells, MVP Coordinator

Peer Support

“Being a Peer Listener gives pupils a new responsibility and a great sense of satisfaction knowing that they are helping other people. It’s not their job to solve problems, but rather to listen to other pupils who might wish to talk about issues that are troubling them. Through role play sessions, discussions and other activities, the children have learned to be effective listeners and we have been so impressed with their commitment to ensuring that our school continues to be a happy and safe place!”

Nikki Arkwright, Peer Support Coordinator Connecting with Nature

Research suggests that even just 20 or 30 minutes spent in the great outdoors each day is enough to have a positive impact on wellbeing. Our beautiful location provides ample opportunities for pupils to soak up the fresh air – below are some of this year’s Outdoor Learning Highlights. Our enthusiastic Green Team met regularly to discuss school-wide initiatives including litter picking on the beach, reducing paper usage and composting food waste. The pupils’ long-term goal is to be awarded Eco School status. Gardening Club continues to be an immensely popular activity in the Junior years. The pupils grow wildflowers, fruits and vegetables on the St Leonards Croft and around the town as part of the St Andrews in Bloom Initiative. This year, the pupils crafted three new scarecrows to guard their plants. Freshly-cooked, healthy dishes are served in Restaurant 1877 each day helping to support the mental and physical health of our school community. Wholegrains, lean protein and fresh fruit and vegetables are central to the menus, and our caterers utilise healthy cooking techniques such as steaming and baking. The menus are also informed by the seasons, incorporating produce harvested from the St Leonards Croft. Apiculture continues to go from strength to strength at St Leonards. We now have three bee colonies, all named after strong and inspirational women - Rosa, after Rosa Parks; Hypatia, after the great Greek philosopher, astronomer and mathematician; and Emitrix (a combination of two colonies, Amelia, after Amelia Earheart; and Beatrix, after the writer, scientist and conservationist, Beatrix Potter).

Community projects are, of course, primarily intended to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others and, as a school, we are proud to deliver the International Baccalaureate curriculums which place service learning at their core. However, it is important to recognise that studies also show that altruistic acts have positive effects on our mental health: acts of service release feel-good chemicals in our brains, known as the ‘helper’s high’, and allow individuals to gain a new insight or perspective into our situations. Below are some of the ways in which our school community has given its time, words and presence to help others over the past year.

Feeding Communities

The Feeding Communities Project was born out of the first national lockdown and, over the past two years, has seen the school kitchens become a hub for the preparation, cooking and packaging of over 8500 freshlycooked meals for those in need in our local community. Pupils, teachers, parents, support and catering staff have assumed a plethora of roles to ensure the preparation and delivery of these meals - whether that be supporting the project financially, chopping vegetables, or driving vegetables. This year, the St Leonards kitchens produced 200 festive meals with all the trimmings for lonely and isolated members of our local community, which were then distributed by the British Red Cross. Commenting upon the festive meals, Audrey Hawthorn from the British Red Cross said: “these meals provided some much-needed Christmas cheer to the most vulnerable individuals in the local area, and also allowed us to check in with and chat to elderly residents to make sure that they were okay.” We look forward to continuing to build upon this project in the years and months ahead.

Colourful CAS Clothes

For their CAS projects, the Year 12 pupils organised a range of themed dress-down days to raise awareness and funds for several different charities. The spook-tacular costumes for the ‘Wear to Scare’ Halloween fancy dress day raised £879.21 for the Scottish Refugee Council, whilst the red and pink clothing donned by pupils and staff for Valentine’s Day raised £454.50 for The British Heart Foundation. As part of our World Book Day celebrations, the pupils dressed up as their favourite literary characters – everything from Paddington Bear to Gangsta Granny – and, in doing so, raised £336.00 for Save the Children. Last, but by no means least, during Anti-Bullying Week our school community donned an eclectic mix of socks as part of the Odd Socks campaign which celebrates difference and diversity.

Movember Schools Challenge

During November, pupils and staff took part in a school-wide challenge to raise money for the Movember campaign. Highlights included staff versus pupil football and hockey matches, a brilliant bake sale, some fantastic facial hair, and an impressive 60km run completed by Mr Brian along the Fife Coastal Path. Thanks to all those who generously contributed to the fundraising campaign, which far surpassed its fundraising goal, and special mention to Mr Parsons who spearheaded the initiative. A total of £2853 was raised, placing St Leonards in first place in the Scottish leaderboard and in the top 10 schools in the UK. MYP Projects

Food Drives

Over the past 12 months, there have been two food drives for Storehouse St Andrews and Dundee Foodbank, organised by the Year 5 and Year 12 pupils respectively.

Raising for the RNLI

This year, the Junior pupils decided to focus their fundraising efforts on the RNLI, with the aim of helping the charity to build a new lifeboat station in Anstruther, just along the coast from St Leonards. Part way through the year, the pupils were delighted to have a visit from the charity’s mascot, Stormy Stan, who thanked them for their fundraising efforts and spurred them on to keep up the good work. There have been some fantastic events including: a ‘Surf & Turf’ themed Fun Run, a Sponsored ‘Nautical Mile’ Swim, and an Island colours fancy dress day. At the final count, the Junior pupils had raised an amazing £530.55 for the charity. Each year, as they reach the end of the Middle Years Programme, the Year 9 pupils embark upon a six-month long community project, seeking to make a meaningful difference in the local community whether that be creating welcome packs for refugees, raising awareness about marine pollution, or volunteering with local charities such as Families First. Throughout the process, the pupils showed themselves to be IB learners – principle and caring communicators and thinkers who are determined to make the world a better place. Special mention to Camryn Sinclair, Jennifer Niven, Will Berry and Logan Graham who won the Pupil Vote, Best Presentation, Effort and Best Project prizes respectively.

Pupil Council

The Pupil Council has continued to go from strength to strength, and it has been fantastic to see the elected representatives put forward ideas and suggestions for how St Leonards can become an even better place to live and learn. This year’s representatives are listed below - our thanks go to them all. Imogen Newton & Archie Clarke (alternating as Chair and Secretary), Ava Neilson, Pablo Gomez-Martin, Maddy Wallard, Mark Doherty, Ines Puig-Obrador, Maxi Schorr, Maya Turton-Pheby, Luke Farquhar, Rachel Hogg, Sophie Lawrence, Harry Jacks, Conor Mackay, Alexis Skaggs and Tristan Cox.

By slowing down and paying attention to the present moment – whether that be through yoga classes, pausing to appreciate the stunning sunrises, or simply enjoying tea and cake with friends in the boarding house – our pupils are increasingly recognising that they can better understand themselves and the world around them. Below are some of our favourite mindful moments from the past year.

Wellbeing Trail

This year, the Junior pupils constructed a multi-sensory wellbeing trail in the heart of the school campus; a peaceful space which will enable them to take time out from the humdrum of school life. From its inception, this was a pupil-led project. The creative process started last academic year when the pupils worked collaboratively to design the trail: the final design incorporates a wide range of trees, herbs and flowering plants, thus creating visual, olfactory, auditory and tactile stimuli which help them to ground themselves and gather their thoughts. In the Spring Term, the construction process began and, armed with forks and spades, the pupils worked hard to clear the undergrowth and plant the aforementioned vegetation. Going forward, the pupils will be responsible for maintaining the trail, fostering a sense of collective responsibility and community, also known to have a positive impact on wellbeing. In addition to creating a peaceful and mindful space, the trail will help to encourage biodiversity on the campus. The bug hotels will provide shelter and refuge for minibeasts and insects, the bird boxes will provide a safe space for finches and tits to build their nests, and the wildflowers will enable the colonies of honeybees at St Leonards to forage for nectar and pollen. This awareness of the delicate balance of ecosystems and the important role that we can play in the flourishing of our natural environment fosters a sense of connectedness in our young people, and in turn this close relationship generates a multitude of positive emotions. The pupils have already commented on the positive impact of the trail. For example, the smells, sounds and sights of nature make them feel “happy” and “relaxed”. Over the coming months, the impact of the wellbeing trail on pupils at St Leonards will be measured and analysed by academics at the University of Dundee. We are looking forward to watching the trail in action and to learning the conclusions of this academic study, which in turn will inform our future practices and initiatives.

Being outside makes me feel relaxed because you are in nature and you can enjoy the smells, the sounds, and the sights. GEORGE CHEAPE

Mindfulness Clubs

The Junior Mindfulness Clubs, affectionately known as ‘Momo the Monkey’ and ‘Bobo the Bunny’, are increasingly popular after-school activities. The clubs are run by Arlene Maitland, who is a qualified yoga teacher and is currently studying for a Master’s in Teaching Mindfulness-Based Courses. Supported by Year 12 student Sara Penickova, Mrs Maitland guides the children through different exercises and practices such as balloon breathing, mindful eating and growing happy thoughts through games such as Simon Says, Granny’s Footsteps and What’s The Time Mr Wolf. It’s the perfect way to switch off and unwind after a busy day at school. “I volunteered to help with the Junior Mindfulness Club because I wanted to help younger children develop compassion, concentration, curiosity and empathy. Going along each week has also helped me to develop strategies and methods to help me deal with the stresses of Sixth Form life, including breathing exercises and yoga. In my opinion, the best way to care for yourself and your wellbeing is to spend a few minutes concentrating on your breathing which decreases tension, or to practise yoga or other stress-relieving exercises while you are at home.” Sara Penickova

St Andrews Skies

This year, the skies have been ablaze with a beautiful array of colours at sunrise and sunset, providing the perfect opportunity for mindful moments of gratitude and appreciation. Thank you to all those in our community who have stopped to capture the stunning scenes over St Andrews at the beginning and end of the day and then shared their photos with us. Here are a few of our favourites! Donna Rae Georgie Majcher

Karajahyah Schlagenhauf

Anthony White Sophie Sanders

Jenn Murray-Turner

At St Leonards, we encourage pupils of all ages to push themselves out of their comfort zones and to try new things. Whether it be performing in a concert for the first time, going on one of our residential adventures and trying out abseiling and rock climbing, or challenging themselves to learn a new language, it is always wonderful to see the pupils reap the rewards of their courage and grow as individuals through these new experiences.

Year 8 Newtonmore Trip

At the start of the academic year, Year 8 headed to Newtonmore in the Cairngorms National Park for an exhilarating weekend of rock climbing, abseiling, gorge scrambling, canyoning, canoeing and rafting. The pupils loved being immersed in the beautiful Highland landscape, and had a fun and memorable few days away. Thanks to Miss Dawson, Miss McGregor and Mr Hislop for organising the residential and accompanying the pupils up north!

Summer Adventures

As the academic year drew to a close, pupils enjoyed all manner of exciting outdoor adventures. Year 5 headed to Perthshire for a residential adventure at PGL Dalguise, whilst Year 6 had a blast on their week away in the Highlands, camping under the stars on Survival Island after a week at the Ridgway Adventure Centre. The pupils participated in lobster creeling, kayaking, archery, abseiling, sea swimming and wild camping, as well as tackling the summit of Arkle as a team. Closer to home, the Year 7 pupils put their orientation, leadership and teamwork skills into practice as they climbed the East Lomond Hill, and embarked upon an adventure day at Willowgate. Everyone felt a great sense of accomplishment as they reached the summit, and enjoyed soaking up the spectacular views over Fife before heading back to Falkland for warming hot chocolates. Last, but by no means least, Year 9 headed down to the West Sands for a fantastic day of watersports workshops courtesy of Blown Away.

Moving our bodies helps us to manage stress and also releases feel-good hormones which can help boost our mood. Correspondingly, our aim is that, during their time at St Leonards, pupils develop a love for at least one sport and that they then continue to pursue this activity in their life beyond school.

In addition to being active, we encourage pupils to develop existing passions and throw themselves into The Arts - whether that be playing the ukulele, composing prose and poetry, creating masterpieces with sequins, fabric and tissue paper, or dancing. The Arts are a wonderful way to creatively express and channel thoughts and emotions, and to find much-needed headspace in the hustle and bustle of today’s world. Last, but by no means least, the mental and physical health of our school community is underpinned by the freshly-cooked, healthy dishes served in Restaurant 1877. This year, there has been a concerted effort to enhance the salad bar, which now features 18 items each day. Some of the favourite options are the feta, tomato, olive and rocket pasta salad, and the homemade slaw with vinaigrette. The catering team holds food forums, tasting sessions, hands-on workshops and information sessions to ensure that pupils and staff understand the importance of fuelling their brains and bodies with nutritious food. This year, we welcomed Christine Bailey, Group Nutrition Director at Thomas Franks, to St Leonards to speak with pupils about all things healthy eating, and she also shared a comprehensive guide with parents to help them partner with the School in encouraging healthy eating. Christine is an award-winning registered nutritionist, food consultant, chef, journalist and author of multiple recipe and health books. She led a series of engaging sessions in the Auditorium covering everything from traffic lights on food packaging to the best breakfast foods for brain power!

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