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The art of Zen

 

Students at St Margaret’s Academy have found their inner Zen following a dedicated wellbeing day at the school.

The event encouraged students to explore their social and emotional wellbeing, as well as raising awareness and promoting understanding of mental health issues.

The Aigburth-based academy held a range of activities and workshops including yoga lessons and insightful talks from a number of local organisations including Everton in the Community and Toxteth Fire Service.

The team from Everton in the Community held classroom sessions with Year 8 and 9 students who learned about resilience, stress and coping mechanisms.

Year 7s got the chance to meet members of Toxteth Fire Service and ask questions about their roles, particularly how they deal with stressful situations. They also enjoyed a tour around a fire engine and tried on the impressive uniforms.

In addition, students took part in a range of orienteering challenges to exercise the body and mind, as well as meeting a number of therapy dogs from Merseyside Dogs Home.

The rescue centre has a core belief that ‘bringing dogs and people closer together not only benefits the dog, but can bring a range of benefits to individuals and to the community’.

The students got to pet and cuddle three friendly dogs; Alfie, Cookie-Monster and Storm, who were all welcomed and adored by the year groups. Most importantly, it highlighted that by just stroking a dog, it can visibly reduce stress and anxiety whilst bringing pleasure.

Katie Pritchard, associate assistant principal and special educational needs co-ordinator, organised the day. She said: “The overall wellbeing of our students is absolutely paramount for us as a school. For this event we wanted to highlight the importance of taking the time out to look at and address their own health and wellbeing, and to also let them know it is ok to open up about any problems they may be experiencing.

“It is great to see mental health being widely talked about and any stigma that was once attached, is finally being reduced”.

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