Each year, at the end of the Summer Term, pupils from Reception to Sixth Form take part in Westbourne’s Wellness Week, in which they participate in a range of acitvities designed to help them unwind, relax and look forward to the holidays ahead. Wellness Week is also an important opportunity to encourage all pupils and staff to consider how making small, positive changes to our lifestyles can have a transformative effect on how we approach our day-to-day lives, how we think, and how we communicate.
Pupils across the Prep School took part in a fantastic range of exciting and thought-provoking activities this week. Children in our Reception, Year 1 and 2 classes visited the seaside for a summer day trip, enjoying a day on the beach, paddling in the sea and sampling delicious ice-creams… They also participated in an outdoor painting workshop led by a professional artist, which focused on the children expressing themselves through a variety of colours, techniques and materials. They were set the challenge of creating a painting representing the ten essential attributes we encourage in every Westbourne student.
Years 3, 4 and 5 had an incredible time practising their DJ skills in a professional DJ workshop, taking a nature stroll to the park, creating their own positive films on iMovie and taking part in a yoga and mindfulness session.
Our Senior School pupils enjoyed a jam-packed week of activities that focused on helping them connect with the beautiful natural scenery surrounding school.
Our Year 6, 7 and 8 pupils began their week with a coastal walk and a stroll across the barrage to Cardiff Bay, followed by our whole-school Sports Day.
Later in the week, students enjoyed an exhilarating day of paintballing, competing as teams to take the top spot, while their afternoon was spent taking on the inflatable obstacles at Aqua Park Cardiff! They also visited sunny Barry Island for a paddle and scenic beach walk, and painted pebbles on Penarth beach.
Our older students in Years 9, 10, Pre IB and IB1 also visited Bath for a day trip. Exploring the only UK city designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, they visited the Roman Baths while taking in the centuries old architecture of the Royal Crescent and the Circus.
At Westbourne we foster a culture of prioritising mental health and wellness all year round. We understand the importance of preparing and supporting children for the real world outside of the classroom, to help prepare for the successes and challenges they may face.
We provide a range of activities that help our students’ wellbeing, from Beach and Forest School to extra-curricular clubs including Yoga, Music, Sports, Languages, Horseriding and so many more.
Most importantly, we provide a nurturing and safe environment for our students to flourish, with small class sizes and a close knit community from Nursery to Sixth Form.
We encourage our students to regularly undertake a number of wellness activities including:
- Take time out to embrace hobbies
- Listen to podcasts, audio books or music
- Eat healthy food and drink plenty of water
- Enjoy regular exercise or walks
- Make time for friends and family
- Keep a gratitude journal or diary
- Regular mindful meditation
- Spend time in nature such as the beach
- Practise positive self-talk