The staff and students of St Thomas More Catholic Primary School (STMCPS) participated in a Wellness Week last week, where the school community took the opportunity to reflect on and take stock of their physical, emotional and mental wellbeing.
Professionals from the community came to guide the staff and students though activities to promote wellbeing.
Local physiotherapist, Marion McRae from 'Movement Solutions' instructed the students through movement and breathing activities.
Kinesiologist, Jessica Koontz from 'Bloom Healing' guided the children through affirmations, acupressure, sound therapy and the use of essential oils.
The Year Six leadership group took charge of morning fitness each day throughout the school and led all the classes from Kindergarten to Year Five through outdoor games that promoted fitness and fun.
Each class also participated in daily guided meditations using the 'Smiling Mind' app and children had the option of displaying their lunchboxes to win the 'Healthiest Lunchbox Award'.
The library was turned into a 'Cool Kids Zone' where the students were able to undertake mindfulness activities including colouring, puzzles and jigsaws while calming music was being played.
The Year Three Class worked with their Kindergarten Buddy Class in the school vegetable garden to harvest the Summer Crop.
The produce from the garden and eggs collected from the school chickens were sold to the school community to raise money to buy seedlings for planting in Spring.
The staff and students thoroughly enjoyed coming to school in their pyjamas on Wednesday and joining in with a lunch time school disco on Thursday.
The week concluded with multi-age activity day where students from Year Six to Pre-Primary worked together on a variety of hands-on activities to promote and develop positive relationships and friendships across the year levels.
School Principal Russell Wylie said working with professionals in the community gave students a new avenue of education.
"The week provided an excellent opportunity for students to learn more about developing healthy habits, while having time to reflect on their own wellbeing," Mr Wylie said.
"The incorporation of community members to share their expertise, really helped the students reflect on integrating some new strategies into their everyday lives to be well."
Mr Wylie said he hoped this week provided a relaxed way to start conversations around wellness and its importance in everyone's lives.
