Health & Wellbeing @ NLPS

Join Us for Our First Coffee Morning of the Year!

We’re excited to invite you to our first Coffee Morning Catch-Up for the year! Held once each term, these relaxed gatherings are a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow parents, carers, and staff over a cup of coffee or tea.

📅 Date: Tuesday, 11th February

⏰ Time: 8:55 AM

📍 Location: Staff Room

We’re especially lucky to have Sheri Seyit, our special community volunteer, returning to make her delicious Turkish coffee once again. Whether you’re new to the school or a familiar face, we’d love for you to join us for a chat and a chance to build our school community together.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Mindful Wednesday Mornings are back!

We are excited to announce the return of Mindful Wednesday Mornings, beginning in Week 3 on Wednesday, 12th February. These sessions will be held at 8:45am in 2MS (Michelle’s classroom) and are open to all students.

Mindful Wednesday Mornings offer students a calm, focused start to their day, helping them build emotional regulation, focus, and resilience. Through guided breathing, simple yoga, and visualisation, students develop a positive mindset to face challenges with confidence and begin their day feeling centred and ready to learn.

We look forward to seeing our students embrace this valuable initiative as part of our ongoing commitment to fostering a strong wellbeing culture at our school.

The Importance of Healthy Routines and Building Resilience for School Success

As we settle into the new school year, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how healthy routines and resilience can set our children up for success. A balanced approach to daily habits and a positive mindset can help children thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Routines create structure and stability, which are essential for children’s wellbeing. By establishing healthy daily habits, children are better equipped to manage the demands of school and life. Here are a few key areas to focus on:

Sleep: A good night’s sleep is critical for focus and learning. Try to set consistent bedtimes and limit screen time before bed to ensure your child gets the rest they need.
Nutrition: Balanced meals fuel both the body and the brain. Encourage healthy lunchbox choices and start the day with a nutritious breakfast.
Physical Activity: Regular movement boosts mood, energy levels, and overall health. Aim for at least an hour of active play or exercise each day.
Reading/Homework: Create a quiet, dedicated space for learning at home, and establish a routine that includes daily reading and completing homework if your child has this. This helps build focus, discipline, and a love for learning.

By sticking to these routines, children gain a sense of predictability and control, which helps reduce stress and increase confidence.

Building Resilience:

Resilience is a vital life skill that helps children navigate setbacks and adapt to new situations. Challenges are a natural part of life, and teaching children to view them as opportunities for growth makes a significant difference and gives children the skills to overcome challenges even as adults.

Starting a new year with unfamiliar faces or a new teacher can bring feelings of uncertainty and anxiety. As parents and carers, it’s natural to want to fix problems right away, but allowing children to work through small uncomfortable feelings helps them develop problem-solving skills and build confidence. Offer guidance and reassurance, but also give them space to find their own solutions. This fosters independence and equips them with the emotional tools they’ll need to navigate life’s challenges.

Here are some ways parents and carers can nurture resilience:

Encourage problem-solving: When your child faces a challenge, guide them to think through possible solutions instead of jumping in to fix the problem for them. This helps build their confidence and independence.
Normalise setbacks: Let your child know it’s okay to make mistakes and that challenges are a natural part of life. Share stories about times when you learned and grew from your own challenges.
Promote a growth mindset: Praise effort, perseverance, and improvement rather than just outcomes. This reinforces the belief that abilities can be developed through hard work and determination.
Model resilience: Show your child how you handle stress or setbacks calmly and positively. Children learn from your example, so be kind to yourself always.
Encourage open conversations: Create a safe space for your child to share their worries or fears. Help them see changes, like starting a new year, as opportunities to make friends, learn new things, and grow.

As parents and carers, it’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of daily life, but it’s so important to take a step back and truly enjoy this special time with your child. Childhood is fleeting, and these years are filled with moments of wonder, laughter, and discovery. Take the time to be present and listen to their stories, share in their excitement, and savour the little moments that make this time in their lives so magical. These everyday experiences are not only shaping who they are, but also creating cherished memories for you as a family.

Let’s work together to create a strong foundation of healthy routines and resilience that will help our children succeed in school and embrace the joys of this extraordinary time in their lives.

Samantha Meddis

Mental health and Wellbeing Leader