This week has been Mental Health Awareness Week, and what a wonderful way to begin it – with a whole school huddle exploring what that truly means and how we can and must, look after it.
I was genuinely moved by the children’s thoughtfulness and maturity. They understood that looking after our minds – our thoughts and our feelings, our mental wellbeing – is every bit as important as looking after our physical health.
When I asked what looking after our mental health might look like at Pennthorpe, the ideas came thick and fast; playing cricket, getting a good night’s sleep, drinking plenty of water, eating healthy foods – and one of personal favourites, playing number blocks. The bottom line was – we must look after ourselves with the same care and attention we give everything else. That means staying curious about how we feel and knowing that there is always something we can do to help ourselves feel better.
I also shared my own top ten tips this week – and much like agreeing to a half marathon back in the Spring Term (thank you, Mr Mott), I held myself accountable by sharing my goals with the entire school.
I will admit it has been harder than I anticipated to find time for the things that are, in truth, relatively simple things. Looking back, I am proud of what I have managed – reading each night before bed, speaking to friends and family daily, exercising, going for walks, eating a piece of fruit at break time, booking myself something to look forward to, and perhaps most impactful (but also most challenging) taking my work emails off my phone.
I haven’t ticked everything off my list, and yes that is a little disappointing. But it is not a failure. Rather than dwelling on what I didn’t achieve, I am choosing to celebrate the progress – more exercise, better sleep, improved diet and genuinely switching off in the evenings. Small but meaningful gains.
It is easy to focus on what we haven’t done, rather than reflecting on how far we have come. So, my invitation to you this weekend: sit down with your children, talk about something they might be finding tough right now and encourage them to celebrate their journey. Looking back at what they have achieved, how far they have come and the progress they have made. It is a powerful way to inspire the steps ahead.
This week I have also been reflecting on just how remarkable children at Pennthorpe are and how beautifully they shine in their own specialist fields.
It was a topic that came up naturally at Open Morning, where I found myself talking about how, at Pennthorpe, each child’s journey is uniquely their own. We nurture and celebrate individual talent. As I spoke, I realised that in the space of just ten days, our children had represented Pennthorpe by:
- Winning a show jumping competition – their third victory in as many weeks
- Winning a Learning Skills Trust Esports Competition – with our Year 6 team now recognised as one of the best in the country!
- Competing in IAPS Sailing – a first for the school.
- Winning an U7 Golf Competition – again, at the first time of entering
- Being shortlisted as a ‘STEM on Track’ finalist, with the winner’s kart design brought to life on a real racing kart, to be driven in front of thousands.
This is just a small snapshot of a few examples, but it demonstrates what a small school like Pennthorpe can offer. When a school knows every child, it can open doors for every child.
As part of this Mr Barnett has recently proposed an idea of a ‘Celebration Table’ in the Front Office. Children bring in their awards, medals, trophies, certificates and rosettes from outside of school, to have them displayed for the whole community to see and are then presented with them at the end of the week in front of their peers. It feels very Pennthorpe, and we are very much looking forward to launching it in September. In the meantime, please do encourage your children to bring in their achievements from outside school – whatever form they take so we can celebrate them together.
In just over three weeks, a small but determined team – myself, Mr Mott, Miss Cooper, Miss Goddard and Amy Wilson will be running the ‘Run Wisborough’ 10K. Some of us will be chasing a respectable time; others simply happy to cross the finish line given that their training has fallen off a bit of a cliff in recent months!
We are running in support of a very special member of our Pennthorpe community. Some of you may know Josh, the brother of Eitan in Reception. Josh is a remarkable little boy – full of determination and spirit – who has faced a tough journey in recent years. In the last few months, his needs have changed significantly, and his parents are incredible. As a school, we want to do everything we can to support, Josh, Eitan and their family.
Running 10K, raising money to support Josh’s care feels like a small gesture in the grand scheme of things but if it helps, it will be worth every step. So, if you are able to donate, please do. And, if you are able to come along to Wisborough Green on Sunday 7th June to cheer us on, it would be great to see you there. You can find the link for Josh’s fundraiser here.
I am delighted to share some exciting news to end the week on. This week, I was given a first glimpse of our brand new Pennthorpe Picture Book: Pip’s Day at School! The incredible Miss Ras has been working on this for the last couple of months and it is stunning! Pip is a young bear who goes to Pennthorpe Nursery, and the story follows his adventures through a wonderful day – exploring the woods, enjoying lunch, playing with friends, discovering phonics and drawing pictures. It is warm, joyful and instantly recognisable as Pennthorpe. What makes it so special is that it does two things beautifully, it captures the magic of our Nursery provision, and it gives our children a story that is truly, personally theirs. I cannot wait to reveal the finished book in the next couple of months.
Finally, with two days of Mental Health Awareness Week to go; please do make time to prioritise your own mental health this weekend. There are some brilliant resources here, which I found useful when planning my week, I now hope to turn these from ‘targets’ into ‘habits’.
