On Friday 15th May 2026, the St Mary’s High School community once again united in support of the Mental Health Foundation’s annual “Wear It Green Day”, held during Mental Health Awareness Week 11th–17th May.  This year’s theme “Action” encouraged everyone to think about the small but meaningful steps we can take to support one another, and to keep conversations about mental health open and ongoing.

The purpose of the day went far beyond fundraising.  It was an opportunity to continue normalising discussions around mental health — a cause that grows more important every year.  The Mental Health Foundation’s mission of promoting “good mental health for all” aligns strongly with our values at St Mary’s, especially its focus on prevention and early support.

Students and staff were invited to join in by wearing a green accessory of their choice — from bold ties and colourful socks, to quirky hats and scarves — in exchange for a £1 donation.  For anyone without something green to hand, green ribbon badges were available for a small contribution.  A fun quiz also took place during Form time, challenging students on their knowledge of mental health and, of course, the colour green.  The winning Form proudly took home a fitting prize, a vibrant green plant.

Thanks to the enthusiasm and generosity of our school community, we raised an impressive £182.00, all of which will be donated to the Mental Health Foundation.  This achievement reflects the compassion and collective spirit that make St Mary’s such a special place.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who took part and helped make Wear It Green Day such a success.  Your support not only raises awareness, but also strengthens a culture of empathy, understanding and positive action within our school.

 

On Tuesday the 21st of April Sammy Angelou, a dynamic multi-talented singer making waves in the UK music scene delivered a performance which was focused on Mental Health, Healthy Relationships and Bullying.

Sammy Angelo is a 24-year-old up-and-coming artist from St Albans. Infatuated with music from a youthful age, he picked up the guitar at the age of 15. Following various tutorials on YouTube, the self-taught instrumentalist was determined to broaden his skills in the hopes of producing his own songs in the future. Enrolling on a creative musicianship course before developing his engineering skills as a producer the following year at University, the newcomer was able to develop performing techniques as well as his confidence in a room full of people. Sharing his debut single “Love Me No More” featuring former JLS member Oritsé Williams, Sammy Angelo then went on to collaborate with musicians such as Geko, Ayo Beatz, S1mba and A7s.​

Sammy developed alopecia as a teenager, an experience that deeply affected his body image and mental health. What could have remained a lifelong struggle, however, became a turning point. Through resilience and self-acceptance, he transformed his journey into one of strength and positivity. Today, Sammy shares an uplifting story of facing adversity head-on and coming out the other side with confidence, optimism, and a desire to inspire others.

Sammy came to St Mary’s to discuss mental health, the causes of mental health problems (stress, relationships etc), a time when he has had his own mental health issues, who to turn to for help and the importance of speaking up. Sammy also spoke about managing school and how to deal with bullying if you come across it, relating to his own experiences at school and his personal story about developing alopecia. ​

Sammy’s talk involved personal stories regarding peer pressure and his journey at school. Sammy discussed the importance of healthy relationships and respect within all kinds of relationships, whether this be family, friendships or romantic relationships. ​Sammy also explored the characteristics of healthy and unhealthy relationships highlighting the importance of respect and tolerance,why diversity should be celebrated between us all. The talk was very interactive, got the students involved, and the key messages were vital for our young people navigating their personal journeys through life.