New Cumnock Primary School Promote & Celebrate Mental Health Week Scotland!

The children and staff of New Cumnock Primary School have had a fantastic week participating in a variety of activities that have promoted strategies that help support and maintain good mental health. This has ranged from classroom activities that have fostered kindness and empathy, art activities, group games, dancing, reading and relaxation. As well as this the children have had the opportunity to go outside and enjoy the sunshine and nature, either through local walks, the school garden and playground area.

We have also been fortunate enough to have visiting specialists in to deliver sessions:

First we had Sharon McQuillan, a GP referral conditions specialist from ‘ShapeShift Fitness & Wellbeing Studio’ in Auchinleck, who came in to deliver clinical yoga for the day.

Then we had Laura Pagan; Sport, Health and Wellbeing Coordinator for ‘New Cumnock Development Trust’ (NCDT) who came in to deliver Clubbercise for the day; while Tammy Borthwick, Community Engagement Officer, also for NCDT, came to deliver ‘Get Jiggy with Geraldine’ for the P1 & P1/2 classes.

Finally, we had Tommy Milgrew; a professional badminton coach based in East Ayrshire, who came in to deliver sessions for the day.

We can’t thank these people enough for the time they have given to the school out of their busy schedules, and for the skills and knowledge they have passed on to our children. We have been very fortunate this year to secure these experiences, which have indeed had a positive effect. Our children have been so enthusiastic during sessions and full of buzz afterwards because of their achievements and how uplifted these activities have made them feel.

As well as all of this, Michael McRobert from ‘McRobert’s Tae Kwon do School’, based in the south of East Ayrshire, who is part of theTae Kwon do Association of Great Britain, has very kindly offered a day of his time in June in so that all children at New Cumnock Primary School can experience this martial art for themselves.

Our wee school is full of buzz, happiness and positivity! Hopefully, all their experiences will stay with them and help them along the road of life so that they have a great one!