On July 14th , our yr6 cohort met with Yasti who is a KS3 pupil and a former Howard Primary pupil.

Mrs Pollington introduced the yr6 cohort to a fantastic video which has lots of helpful tips about being moving up to year 7. The yr6 pupils then took part in a Question& Answer session with Yasti.

The presentation supported our yr6 cohort feeling more confident about the change. They had so many questions for Yasti!

If you missed the presentation, please have a look at this video which might help you feeling more at ease with the transition to yr7. 

Enjoy Summer!

Mrs Pollington & The Wellbeing Team

Technology is a big part of all our lives. Children love nothing better than playing on their Xbox, watch YouTube videos, message their friends. We all use social medias.

Sometimes though, we might find it difficult to switch off as technology can create dependency. Our brain can become overstimulated so when we are called for dinner, we find it hard to break away from the console and even when we are eating we might find it difficult to concentrate on the food and on the people around us.

Can we use technology to become find calm?

Yes we can!

Have a look at the CALM ZONE website and VIRTUAL CALM DOWN ACTIVITIES website.

You will discover calming games, exercises, yoga videos, calming music which you and your family can use to find calm.

CALM ZONE LINK:

https://www.childline.org.uk/toolbox/calm-zone/

VIRTUAL CALM DOWN ACTIVITIES LINK:

Virtual Calm Down Activities

This short guide provides tips on how to support children preparing for, or going through, the transition to secondary school.  

It includes guidance which explains why the transition can be difficult for some children, and practical advice such as talking and connecting with the new school, as well as suggested resources that children and parents and carers may find useful.

https://www.annafreud.org/schools-and-colleges/resources/supporting-childrens-transition-to-secondary-school-guidance-for-parents-and-carers/

Dear Parents/Carers,

RE: Parent Gym is coming to Howard Primary from 22^nd May 2023: 12 places available

We know from talking with parents that many of you wonder what you can do to give your children the best start in life (and make your life as a parent a bit easier too).

This is why we’re delighted to offer Parent Gym, a well-established, six-week programme that shares and explores practical tips and strategies to make family life easier and help your children thrive. Come along to meet other parents, hear their stories and pick up new ideas. Everyone is welcome and it is completely free.

The sessions are themed as follows and will be led by our Parent Gym Coach, Miss Ancel:

Week 1:  Mon 22^nd May 13:20-15:20, Music Room

CHAT: How to communicate. Get you and your child talking and listening in a positive way every day.

Week 2: Mon 12^th June 13:20-15:20, Music Room

LOVE: How to show you care, in the right ways Boosting your child’s confidence, with a balance between closeness and independence.

Week 3: Mon 19^th June 13:20-15:20, Music Room

BEHAVE: How to be consistent in setting boundaries. Bring calm to your family with rules and routines that really work.

Week 4: Mon 26^th June 13:20-15:20, Music Room

CARE: How to raise healthy children. Keep yourself and your family healthy and happy with good sleep, eating and exercise.

Week 5: Mon 3^rd July 13:20-15:20, Music Room

DISCOVER:  How to encourage learning. Help develop healthy learning habits with your child, including managing screen time.

Week 6: Mon 10^th July 13:20-15:20, Music Room

TOGETHER: How to build a family support network. Keep your family feeling happy, supported and loved.

To find out whether this is for you, please join us for a taster session on Monday, 15^th May, 14:30-15:15, in the Music Room.  If you know this is for you, to book a place on the Parent Gym course, please email Mrs Pollington at: senco@howard.croydon.sch.uk

Yours sincerely,

Mrs Pollington and Miss Ancel

Wellbeing Team

Howard Primary

To celebrate Neurodiverse Week and Autism Awareness , we are delighted to share with you a fantastic resource : A is for Autism.

These are a few of the highlights :

You can access the free book here :A for Autism (1)

There are many ways to keep mentally healthy. One of them is to Connect. You feel connected when you to feel close to and valued by other people, especially those in your community.

Hence it is important to also discover what amazing things Croydon has to offer.

Let’s celebrate Croydon and its people together!

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=568753643647219

What an amazing Dress to Express day we all had!

We discovered that we can express a whole range of emotions by wearing a certain colour, a texture, a pattern. Accessories such as hair bands played a big part in our Dress to Express day and so did nail varnish ! We talked about fashion as a tool that can trigger great memories, a power tool that can shift our mood and help us to connect mind and body. We talked about our heros and their many costumes and how they made us feel like heros too on a hard day.

By sharing the reason behind why we chose a particular outfit, we put into practice good mental health strategies, we discovered things we didn’t know about each other, we showed kindness, respect and shared joy! Above all we showed that we connected as a community.

We have also raised over £200 towards the building of sensory walks around school.

Thank you Howard Primary!

Mrs Pollington and Miss Ancel from the Wellbeing Team at Howard Primary

Children’s Mental Health Week 2023

”Children’s Mental Health Week 2023 will take place from 6th-12th February 2023.

This year’s theme is Let’s Connect and  is about making meaningful connections. People thrive in communities, and this connection is vital for our wellbeing. Having healthy connections – to family, friends and others – can support our mental health and sense of wellbeing”( from Place2Be website). 

This year, we will celebrate this important week as follows :

1. MONDAY WELLBEING ASSEMBLY. Mrs Pollington will guide the children and staff through relaxation tools. We will learn what mental health is all about as well as looking at 5 steps to ensure positive mental health. Watch this video to learn what the 5 steps are: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF7Ou43Vj6c
2. DRESS TO EXPRESS MUFTI DAY on Wednesday 8th February. Let’s Connect by talking about what makes us feel in the Green Zone! Wear it and talk it out! Children and adults will dress to express a positive feeling. We will ask for £1 donations so we can raise funds to create sensory walks around school. By talking about what has the power to uplift our mood and wellbeing , we can learn new tools but also make everyone aware that it is normal to talk about mental wellbeing. What will YOU wear ?
3. Children will take part in a WELLBEING CHALLENGE in groups of 4 or more. Each group will work on a tool of their choice ( e.g. a breathing technique, a relaxation strategy, a tour of one of the four Zones of Regulation) and will present their work to the class. The class will vote for the best group of their choice. The group who has gained the most votes will work with Mrs Pollington and Miss Ancel to record a video showcasing their tool. Each video will then be presented to the whole school and used by all children to practise the new tool.
4. Children will learn everything about FIRST AID so they can manage big feelings such as anxiety, fear ,stress in an emergency situation as well as learning first aid techniques.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CHECK OUT THE LINK BELOW:

https://www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk/news-and-blogs/2023/february/the-princess-of-wales-discusses-the-importance-of-connections-to-mark-children-s-mental-health-week/?utm_source=Place2Be+E-news&utm_campaign=100700b586-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2021_10_27_02_50_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_acf77df294-100700b586-220154172