Author: Mrs Docherty

Good morning everyone. These are very different times we are living in and especially for your children as they adjust to the new normal routine. They may find it difficult at times and so for this week I would like to focus on some Health and Wellbeing activities about self-esteem and managing change and emotions during this period.

Self-esteem is something that allows children to feel good about themselves. It allows them to recognise what they are good at, helps them to persevere even when they don’t get things first time and supports them to recognise that it is ok to make mistakes. I have included a link below for a lovely story called The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes. Please have a listen and share it with your child.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQG4vFGd6eU

Self-esteem gives your children the courage to try new things, make new friends and also gives them the ability to recognise that good things happen when they try.

A few ways to help develop their self-esteem include:

• Sharing with them their successes and telling them you can see how well they are doing with something.
• Get them to make a list of what they are good at. If they are finding this difficult you and other family members can share what you feel they are good at.
• Get them to practise the things they do well.
• Encourage your child to do their best at all times and to persevere even when things are hard. When they have success doing this their self-esteem grows.
• Right now in these times spending time with their family doing things they love will help to build your child’s self-esteem.

I have attached a little activity you could try at home with your child. Share the strength cards attached below with your child. Get them to recognise what they think their strengths are from the cards. Then  cut out five strips of paper and get your child to write their 5 strengths on these strips attaching them to the cloud template below. Everyone in the family could make one and you could all share what makes you special.

Strength-cards-new

self-esteem-cloud (1)

Next week we will focus on exploring feelings as part of our HWB. Have fun with the activity above and enjoy building up each other’s self-esteem.

As always, take care and stay safe,

Mrs Docherty

Good morning and welcome back to the start of another week. I hope you have all had a lovely weekend and have continued to make memories along the way. I love to start our week with a positive song and today is no different. One of my all-time favourite films is The Wizard of Oz and with it, its iconic song Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

In the film the characters have to show courage and determination as they embark on a journey like no other. This is very reflective of what we are all doing with life at the moment. We are all on a journey like no other and what is important to get through it is bravery, determination, friendship, support and love.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_XNczdUEoc

The lyrics of the song are reflective of what we are thinking and feeling every day as we wish for the brighter days ahead when we can all be together again. As we go into this week let’s think of the lyrics from the song and stay positive looking forward to another week of exciting learning and support of each other.

Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
There’s a land that I’ve heard of once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream,
Really do come true.

The lyrics provide us with hope and knowledge that as each day goes by we will be getting closer to being together again and starting our new journey after the storm.

Have a great week everyone, take care and stay safe,

Mrs Docherty

As we look back at another week of learning, friendships, support and hope we realise what a journey we have been on and indeed are still on. Hopefully for all of you things are starting to fall into a new normal and a new routine that works for you all.

While things have changed and we are all adjusting, what is important is to remember that when we come to the end of this part of the journey we are all here for you and as we get closer to that time we are getting more and more excited to see you all.

They always say absence makes the heart grow fonder and I know that is the case for us at St Ninian’s. When we remember the words of our song of the week from Monday “Rise Up ” by Andra Day please keep in your minds the lines:

All we need, all we need is hope
And for that we have each other
We will rise

This song means a lot to me and I have used it as a writing stimulus in school which resulted in amazing pieces of writing based on hope, strength and courage. Please know these are the qualities you are showing at the minute and we are so appreciative of your support and engagement. Our special quote for this week is:

We know that as a school and as a community we will grow even stronger through this and look forward to a new chapter of learning, laughter and fun.

Have a lovely  weekend with each other, continue to make special memories and please stay safe.

Mrs Docherty