Wellness Week

Wellbeing can be simply defined by three key concepts – ‘Feeling Good. Functioning Well. Doing Good for Others’. While COVID-19 continues to pose a threat to our physical health, it is the ongoing impact on mental health and wellbeing that may have the longest lasting impact of all.

Building upon the success and popularity of previous years, this year’s Wellness Week coincided with WA Mental Health Week with the theme ‘The body achieves what the mind believes’, highlighting the importance of having a growth mindset and positive mental health for our overall sense of wellbeing, resilience and optimism. With a focus on mental, physical and social wellbeing, the whole College community engaged in programs, presentations and a diverse range of activities designed to educate and involve them in the development of their own personal, physical and mental health. Each day was themed with a specific focus on a different aspect of wellbeing – Mindful Monday, Try it Tuesday, Wellness Wednesday, Thankful Thursday and Fit Friday. The notion that we can benefit our own state of wellbeing by assisting others is central to the concept of ‘Doing Good for Others’. This has been very powerful for our boys and can be witnessed through their willingness to become involved in the Christian Service program. On Mindful Monday, boys from Years 4–12 were asked to collect a variety of items, such as food, clothing, and men’s sanitary products which were donated to a number of Perth charity organisations. Throughout the week the boys were lucky enough to have a variety of guest presenters from Zero2Hero, Red Frogs, YSafe, Salvation Army and the Emmanuel Centre. Some of the highlights of the week included the various ‘staff versus student’ games held at lunchtimes, silent yoga, guided meditation and breathing, virtual reality mindfulness, knitting, wheelchair basketball, parkour, boxing and the everpopular Boost Juice and Bubble Tea vans. During Wellness Week, the boys were encouraged to get involved in ‘Sneaker Day’ to raise funds for the Blue Tree Project – a charity organisation that promotes positive mental health for men and encourages us all to break down the stigma of mental illness and begin the conversation amongst our friends and family. Unfortunately, due to the inclement weather, we were unable to go to Waterford on Wellness Wednesday to paint a prominent tree blue in recognition of our support for the project, but we hope to get out there soon and create a longlasting reminder of the importance of our own mental health and our role in helping our mates who might be struggling. One of the standout highlights of the week was on Thankful Thursday where students wrote gratitude cards and presented a wonderful video to thank our teachers and staff for their hard work. The cards were delivered to the staff along with a cup of hot coffee by the students in the morning. There were plenty of smiling faces when the deliveries were made. Our Wellness Week ended with Fit Friday where the boys participated in some different modes of fitness and movement. Boys had the opportunity to be involved in a boxing fitness class or could try their hand at parkour, with the Years 7 and 8 boys having the chance to practice silent yoga. I would like to acknowledge the involvement of the Years 10–12 cohorts for their planning contributions and for their assistance throughout the week. A special mention goes to 2021 Prefects, Luke Alderslade, Harley Jennings and Nathan Holland for their particular input and involvement and for putting together a fantastic presentation aimed at Years 7–10 students called ‘Helping Hand’. The ongoing success of Wellness Week would not have been possible without the support of staff in organising the event and giving their time to run the various activities for the benefit of our students and their mental health and wellbeing. We look forward to another great Wellness Week in 2022.

Mr Julian Fritz

Deputy Principal (Student Wellbeing)