St. Mary’s Celebrates International Stress Awareness Week with Lunchtime Wellbeing Activities
To mark International Stress Awareness Week, which ran from November 4th to 8th, St. Mary’s held a series of lunchtime activities aimed at supporting students’ mental health and wellbeing. The event was the brainchild of Lily, a Year 9 Wellbeing Ambassador, who wanted to bring stress-relieving activities to her peers in an accessible, enjoyable way.
Each day featured a different activity, reflecting the “5 Ways to Wellbeing,” a set of evidence-based actions that promote mental health by reducing stress, anxiety, and negative thoughts. The activities encouraged students to engage with these five principles: Take Notice, Keep Learning, Connect, Be Active, and Give.
- Take Notice (Monday): Students participated in a mindful word search, encouraging them to pause and focus on the present moment.
- Keep Learning (Tuesday): The activity for the day was learning origami, giving students a chance to develop a new skill in a fun, hands-on way.
- Connect (Wednesday): Classic board and card games were available, allowing students to bond with each other over shared experiences.
- Be Active (Thursday): Students joined in on a lively “Just Dance” session, boosting both their energy and mood.
- Give (Friday): Students created thank-you cards to give to others, spreading positivity and fostering a sense of gratitude within the school community.
Participation was enthusiastic, with each student receiving a sticker for completing a daily activity. Those who collected all five stickers were awarded a token and a small prize as recognition for their commitment to wellbeing.
Reflecting on the experience, Amy, a Year 9 student, shared, “I enjoyed the activities because it was nice to do something different, and I had a lot of fun with my friends.” Oskar, also in Year 9, noted, “I liked playing the board games as it kept me calm.”
The initiative was a success, providing students with tools to manage stress in a supportive and engaging environment, while also encouraging the development of lifelong wellbeing practices.
