Staff and students from Wexford secondary school enjoy feast of activities for well-being week

Irish Independent

28-04-2025

Organised by the Amber Flag team, led by Mrs Jackie Byrne, the week encouraged students to prioritise their mental and physical well-being while fostering a strong sense of community spirit.
The school's Wellbeing Week incorporated outdoor activities designed to encourage mindfulness and exercise. PE classes, led by Ms Daphne Kennington, took advantage of the Greenway for wellbeing walks and a nature scavenger hunt, where students were challenged to observe their surroundings, capturing photographs of specific items as part of a creative task.
Meanwhile, on school grounds, students and staff revisited childhood fun with vintage games and activities, including hopscotch, ring toss, skipping, and Connect 4. An Easter egg scavenger hunt added a competitive element, with teams racing to solve clues in the fastest time.
Wednesday brought a bake sale to the jam-packed schedule, which was held in the refectory. It was again organised by the Amber Flag team and the event featured a variety of homemade treats, with students and staff showing their support by purchasing and enjoying the baked goods. Proceeds from the sale will be used to fund future wellbeing initiatives within the school.
The school marked International and Multicultural Day, on Thursday, which involved a celebration of the rich diversity within the school community. Students and staff were invited to wear clothing representing their heritage, whether national colours, jerseys, or traditional dress. Spanish students in Transition Year prepared a selection of traditional Spanish dishes for sampling during the morning break, while students from the music department provided traditional Irish music at lunchtime.
Throughout the day, members of the Amber Flag team led a series of cultural workshops. Ella Yu and Natanya Howey (both 5th-year students) introduced students to elements of the Chinese language by teaching students how to read and write.
Brooklyn Catt (3rd year) delivered a cheerleading demonstration for her classmates in 3M, while Leah St. Ledger (5th year) taught hip-hop dance to students in 5M and 5R. These workshops provided an opportunity for students to engage with different cultures in an interactive and enjoyable way.
In adding to the events and as part of the school's focus on positivity, a Promote Positivity Inspiration Chain was launched. The initiative aims to encourage students and staff to write uplifting messages for others to take and share.
A special box was placed in the refectory where messages could be dropped off and picked up, ensuring a continuous circulation of encouragement throughout the school. Additionally, an interactive whiteboard was made available for students to leave positive and inspirational notes.
The students and staff extended their commitment outside of school hours in concluding their Wellness Week of events as they attended J.F. K. Arboretum at the weekend to participate in the weekly Parkrun event. The event, which began at 9.30 a.m., provided a final opportunity for the school community to come together, get active, and round-off Wellbeing Week on a high note.
"We'd like to say a huge well done to all those involved in organising and participating in this fantastic week of events and we look forward to more wellness events in the future,' a staff member commented.