Wellbeing

Wellbeing Leader - Mr Nick Flavel

Little Moments, Big Gratitude

In our busy everyday lives, it can be easy to focus on what we need, what we want or what might not be going our way. Taking time to pause and appreciate the people, experiences and little moments that bring us joy can make a real difference to our wellbeing.

At St Bernard’s, we recognise the importance of helping students develop gratitude as part of their social and emotional learning. Through our ongoing focus on wellbeing and The Resilience Project, students are encouraged to recognise the positives in their lives, appreciate the kindness of others and understand how gratitude can contribute to their happiness and wellbeing.

Through regular classroom discussions, TRP lessons and everyday interactions, we encourage students to understand that gratitude is about much more than simply saying “thank you”. It involves recognising the good things in our lives, appreciating the contributions of others and finding joy in everyday moments. These practices also connect closely with our school values of Respect, Responsibility and Safety, as we work together to create a caring, positive and supportive school community.

Why is gratitude important?

Research suggests that regularly practising gratitude can have many benefits for children, including:

• Improved wellbeing - encouraging children to recognise and appreciate positive experiences.
• Stronger relationships - helping others feel valued, included and appreciated.
• Greater empathy - recognising the kindness, efforts and contributions of others.
• Increased resilience - helping children identify the people and experiences that support them during challenging times.
• A positive mindset - encouraging children to focus on what is going well, rather than what might be missing.

Developing an attitude of gratitude doesn't have to be complicated! One simple way to encourage gratitude at home is to spend a few minutes each evening sharing three things you are grateful for.

These might include:

• A person: “I'm grateful for my friend because they included me in their game.”
• A special moment: “I'm grateful that we had fun and laughed together at dinner.”
• Something small: “I'm grateful for the sunshine while I played outside.”
• An achievement: “I'm grateful that I finally worked out that tricky maths problem.”

Encourage your child to share why they are grateful. This helps them develop a deeper appreciation of the positive experiences and acts of kindness that can sometimes go unnoticed. It's also important to remember that being grateful doesn't mean we have to feel happy all the time. Children will still experience disappointment, frustration and challenges. Gratitude simply helps them recognise that even on difficult days, there can be something or someone worth appreciating.

By practising gratitude both at school and at home, we can help our children develop a greater appreciation for the people and experiences that make a positive difference in their lives. After all, sometimes it's the smallest things that make the biggest difference.

PBL

School Mascot Competition Winners

A huge congratulations to the finalists and winner of our PBL School Mascot Competition! We were blown away by the exceptional creativity, imagination and artistic talent displayed by all students who entered. The quality of the designs was outstanding, making the judging process incredibly difficult! Well done to everyone who participated, and a special congratulations to Maeve for producing our winning design.