Amber Flag
The Pieta Amber Flag Initiative recognises the individual efforts of a school to create healthy, inclusive environments that support mental well-being.
We at Maynooth B.N.S. have taken on the challenge to obtain the Amber Flag this academic year.
By adopting a whole school approach St Mary’s B.N.S aims to produce a wide range of educational and social benefits for individual children, including improved behaviour, increased inclusion, improved learning, greater social cohesion, increased social capital and improvements to mental health (Weare & Gray, 2003). This whole school approach supports the integration of systems within the school community. This creates capacity to be reflective and responsive to the needs of the school and the individuals who are part of the school community.
Here are some initiatives we are undertaking this year to promote wellbeing in our school:
- Aistear: The Early Childhood Curriculum Framework (NCCA, 2009) which encompasses four themes, Well-being, Identity and Belonging, Communication, Exploring and Thinking. This programme runs from Junior Infants to 2nd class.
- Project based learning from 3rd class to 6th class
- SPHE Curriculum (RSE, Stay Safe, Friendship and Anti-Bullying
- Demonstration Project – In School Therapy Project
- Buddy Reading Projects
- Yard Games
- Continuum of Support Model
- Student Committees: Student Council, Green School Committee, Well-being Committee, Active School Committee.
- Outdoor Learning
- Sensory circuits / movement breaks
- Wellbeing week
- Worry and Wishes Jars