From the Acting Head of Junior School – Focus on Wellbeing

Respect for Self

 Respect has been our School Value focus this term.

The holidays are now upon us and this is a great time to talk about respect for self.

Respecting ourselves means treating ourselves with care. Respecting ourselves is the first step toward understanding we deserve love, consideration, and opportunities like everyone else.

The holiday break from school is an opportunity to treat ourselves with care – to rest, relax and rejuvenate.

School holidays are a great opportunity for children to take a break from the intensity of the school routine and embrace the joys of lazy days, playtime, and exploration. While many parents make an effort to plan activities and outings to keep their kids ‘busy’ and entertained, they often forget the importance of rest and relaxation time during these breaks. It is essential for children to have sufficient downtime particularly during the school holidays to reset their nervous systems. Rest and relaxation allow the body and mind to recover and rejuvenate, which is crucial for maintaining overall health and wellbeing. From a neurological perspective, research has shown that downtime helps children to regulate their emotions, reduce stress levels, and improve memory and cognitive function.

Other benefits of school holiday times include:

Family time

Holiday breaks are a common time for families to get together and enjoy each other’s company. When students are off school, this creates a great opportunity to spend some quality time together as a family, whether it be going on a holiday or simply making the most of your time together at home you are able to cherish that time together!

School holidays provide time for family holidays and no doubt about it: Family holidays = memories. Your children won’t remember the day you got a raise or the day you hit all your sales targets or got promoted, but they will remember the day you helped them land a big fish or taught them to ride a bike or pitch a tent.  

Mental break

Holiday breaks have proven to be highly beneficial for student’s mental health and wellness since they allow for spare time for relaxing or doing various activities of personal choice. Doing things we enjoy, and having the time to do them, is important and is crucial to self-care.

Physical health

Not only have holiday breaks proven to be highly beneficial for mental health, but they can be beneficial for physical health too. When an individual’s mental health is in balance, the body also gets an advantage. Since stress and anxiety are usually reduced during breaks, bodily disposition and energy are consequently boosted. Besides, not having to meet a timeline or schedule allows added time for walks, exercise, or other physical activities.

Travel and vacations

For individuals living abroad, being able to return home to celebrate with their family, friends, and community reaffirms their identity and link to the community’s traditions. Traveling is wholesome for the mind, body, and soul since it allows individuals to have new and exciting experiences as well as a break from the day-to-day routine. Students are more likely to come back to school strong after they have had the opportunity to spend time in different environments creating lifelong memories.

When students are on holidays, quite often they find themselves going on holidays or exploring the world around them, this allows students to appreciate the world around them from a cultural and historical point of view outside of the classroom. 

Time to catch up

Holiday breaks allow students to shift their focus and complete other important tasks that they are not normally able to address during the school year. Having the time and space to catch up with the things that have been pushed aside or that might require more focus and time is equally beneficial and rewarding. For me, the break is usually a time where I get some deep cleaning done around the house or other jobs I’ve been putting off.

I know sometimes as parents we hear “I’m bored!” from our children during holiday time. Boredom can be a good thing. Boredom is often the precursor of creativity. It teaches children to occupy themselves and not to constantly rely on others for entertainment.

By incorporating rest and relaxation into your holiday plans, parents can help their children to unwind and recharge, setting them up for success in both their academic and personal lives. 

I wish all students and families a restful break and look forward to seeing you all bright and fresh in Term 4.

– Joanne Sharpe
Acting Head of Junior School