Positivity Value

The wellbeing value of this term is positivity. In our lessons, we can show positivity in a lot of different ways, from using positive language to approaching tasks with enthusiasm. But it is harder to show positivity when you are approached with a challenging situation.

Negative emotions are unfortunately the most prominent in our decision making. When we are faced with a situation that we associate with negativity, our human instinct is to approach it to take care of the worst possible scenario.

To improve your positivity, we are trying to stop doing the following

Setting unrealistic expectations – thinking that you can only be successful if you reach certain goals, not taking into account your circumstances

Catastrophising – thinking the absolute worst of situations

Mistaking feelings for facts – only thinking about things from your perspective, based on the way you feel at that time

But how can we stop it?

Check for common thought holes – do you tend immediately go the worst possible scenario?

Collect evidence to paint an accurate picture of what’s happening

• I pay attention in class
• I do revision and attend extra clubs
• I have done well in my exams in KS3
• I am focused and willing to do what is needed to succeed in my results

Challenge your original negative thoughts – once you’ve collected all the information, is the original thought still the accurate one? 

 

What to do when a friendship group becomes toxic

1 Step back to gain perspective.

When you look at anything – be that a book, or a problem – from very close range, your vision becomes blurred and you can’t make out what you’re looking at. Take a deep breath and assess the situation dispassionately. Are your friends really going out much more without you, or are there just as many occasions when you’re doing something with one of them, or when all three of you are out together? If they are seeing more of each other, could it be because they share an interest, or do an after-school club together that’s bringing them into closer contact?

2 Remember that relationships ebb and flow.

The chances are your friendship triangle will shift and rebalance in a few weeks’ time, so try to not let your concerns run away with you. Be patient and calm and give the situation time to resolve itself. Accepting that friendships change is an important part of growing up.

3 Try to let your friends know that you are feeling left out.

Start by approaching the one you are closest to and talk to her face-to-face or on the phone rather than online. There’s a good chance that they’re not aware that they’ve hurt you, or that they don’t realise how important it is to you to be included.

4 Think about how to modify your reaction.

Being left out from time to time is inevitable – it happens to everyone. The important thing is not to take it too much to heart. And be careful not to exacerbate the third-wheel syndrome by being standoffish, or by waiting for others to plan events that you can go along to. Take the initiative. See what’s on at the cinema and invite your friends.

5 Don’t sit at home stalking them on social media.

If they’re out having a good time, then so should you be. Expand your friendship circle so that you have other people to socialise with. Having two best friends is great, but you shouldn’t pin your whole social life on them and them alone. Socialising with other teenagers from different schools and clubs will broaden and enhance your life.

One Moment Meditation

The benefits of meditation are becoming more apparent and lots of the apps that we have recommended on this page are to do with meditation. Sometimes its hard to know how or where to start, but if you’re interested in seeing what it is all about, try this video! Once you have meditated for a moment, you’ll be ready try the apps by yourself!

Supporting your Childs Health and Wellbeing

With the new school year starting, some students may already be anxious about what is to come.

Whilst we work with all students at school to give them ways of managing positive wellbeing, it is vital that the message is spread at home too. As well as this, there should always be open communication between school and home to ensure that nothing is missed when it comes to a students wellbeing.

The above infogram gives some ideas of how you can support from home, but there are some things on there that we may not always think of.

Share your feelings – Whilst you may think that hiding your anxieties about the students starting school may be good for them in the long run, if they are aware that you are actively hiding emotions, they may think that is what they should do. Being honest and open with these feelings can encourage them to do the same.

Validate their feelings – Whether you think their level of emotion or thought process is valid or not, they believe it is. If a child comes to you, validate the way they are feeling and work together to come up with ways of minimising the impact of the situation

Actively listen before offering advice – most of the other points on here are relating to things we know are good for our health – eating well, being active, drinking water, but do not underestimate the power of just letting someone talk.

If you have any concerns with your child’s health or wellbeing, please do not hesitate to get in touch with a member of their pastoral team.

 

Open Mindedness

“The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it”

– Terry Pratchett

At APS, the value of open mindedness is defined as ‘taking on ideas an perspectives in a critical and thoughtful way’.

Having an open mind is not just about expanding your own views and understanding, its also about allowing other people the opportunity to feel comfortable with sharing their views, knowing that they will be listened to. Students have discussed how relevant this is at APS during from time and come up with some areas that they think open mindedness could positively impact people experience at school. these included;

• when a teacher tries a new teaching technique
• when a new club starts
• when you are having a conversation with someone that views a situation differently to you

Try having a conversation with someone you wouldn’t usually speak to and notice how this can affect your own opinion in a positive way.

 

Healthy corn chips

 

Prep: 0:10 | cook 0:25

Ingredients

3 x (310g) corn tortillas

oil spray

onion or garlic powder

 

Method

Pre-heat oven to 180°C (160°C fan forced) and line 2 oven trays with baking paper.

Cut up each tortilla into wedges like you would a pizza and lay out on trays.

Spray lightly with oil spray and sprinkle with a little onion or garlic powder.

Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until crispy.

Let them cool on the trays for 5 minutes to realise their full crispiness.

 

Notes

Sprinkle with a little chilli powder for spicy chips.

Sprinkle a little taco seasoning for a Tex Mex explosion.

Sprinkle with Cajun spice for a Creole kick.

Finely grate a little low fat cheddar over the top for cheesy chips.

Emotional Agility and Courage

It can often be that we think that in order to have positive health and wellbeing, that we have to be positive about everything that comes our way. But that is not always going to be possible. Sometimes, we are going to be challenged by situations that do bring us negative emotions, but it is important to go through these in order to learn and grow. Being Resilient does not always mean that you immediately bounce back after a set back. Sometimes, in order to learn from these challenges, we need to let ourselves be sad, be angry, be disappointed, so that we can move forward knowing how to avoid putting ourselves in that position again.

The TED talk below, shows why and how this is important.

Wellness Club

Every Wednesday a group of students meet to spend an hour working on their wellbeing. During this time we will spend half an hour being active (going for walks, skipping, fitness sessions, benchball, yoga) and half an hour doing something else that makes us happy (drawing, playing games, team challenges, meditation). The aim of our group is to give students a place where they can come to just work on themselves, not think about anything else. We develop tools that we can then take away and use through the week when things get overwhelming.

Wellness club happens every Wednesday, in EO2. All students are welcome and you can pop in whenever you want.

Hummus with toasty dippers

Prep: 0:10 | cook 0:15

Ingredients

Hummus 1 x tin (400g) chickpeas

60ml (1/4 cup) olive oil

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp ground cumin

Toasty dippers4 slices bread, crusts removed

2 tsp butter

 

Method

Hummus

Place all ingredients into a food processor and process until just smooth.

Toasty dippers

Preheat oven to 190°C conventional (or 170°C fan-forced).

Line a baking tray with baking paper.

Roll each slice of bread with a rolling pin until flat.

Butter each slice and cut into four triangles or rectangles making 16 pieces in total.

Place bread on the tray and bake for 15 minutes or until golden.

Serve hummus and dippers on a tray or pack a small serve into lunch boxes.

Notes

Try wholegrain bread dippers cut into triangles or rectangles and a squeeze of lemon juice on top of the hummus to add a citrus zing.

Sesame bars

Ingredients

6 tbsp honey

1/3 cup peanut butter

1/2 cups powdered milk

1 cup shredded coconut

1/3 cup chopped raisins

1 cup sesame seeds

Method

In a small saucepan, over a low heat, warm the honey and peanut butter until combined. Remove from heat and leave to cool.

Add the honey mixture to the rest of the ingredients and combine.

Line a slice tin with baking paper and press the mixture in firmly and press with the back of a metal spoon.

Refrigerate and when firm, cut into squares.

Notes

The ingredients will seem a little dry at first but when it is pressed into the tin it all amalgamates well.

You could heat the honey and peanut butter in the microwave for one minute on high if you don’t want to use a saucepan.

This recipe is called sesame bars but you can also cut them into squares too.