Hero photograph
Pink Shirt Day 2020
 
Photo by Anthea Hunt

Wellbeing

AGHS —

The Wellbeing Council ran a Wellbeing Week at school to support anti-bullying and promote kindness amongst our school community.

This year, during week two of term three, AGHS supported Anti-bullying and kindness with a “Wellbeing week” run by the senior and junior Wellbeing Council. The Wellbeing Council planned a week in order to help promote kindness and the importance of being an Upstander this connecting also to our school value of integrity! We wanted to make people more aware of the issue and wanted to teach people ways that they could help. The Wellbeing council worked super hard to really get the idea through the school by running different activities where the whole school was able to get involved. Our activities included decorating the school pink, A kindness board, a pink photo both, How to be an up-stander flip grid competition, Free hot chocolate, Random acts of kindness by delivering brownie throughout the day, colouring competitions, wellbeing video, movies, yoga as well as ako activities finishing with Pink Shirt day! Our main goal was not only to spread awareness but to also inspire people to do something kind for someone else. 

- Sammi Latham, Wellbeing Council Leader.


He aroha whakatō, he aroha puta mai.
- If kindness is sown then kindness you shall receive.

In a world of busyness and sometimes disconnection which can affect our wellbeing, the simplicity of kindness can bring out several benefits. Studies have found evidence to suggest the following health rewards:

  • Feel good factor or ‘Helpers high’ from positive and optimistic emotions brought about by giving to others – caused through the release of serotonin.
  • Better relationships with others, supporting a sense of belonging and connection – by inducing gratitude for the act of kindness which demonstrates ‘you are noticed and matter’
  • Promoting a culture of kindness - due to the ripple effect of others repeating acts of kindness due to positive experience they’ve had.
  • Decrease in anxiety and stress– release of oxytocin causing release of chemical that dilates blood vessels to lower blood pressure which can help stress levels.

As a school we hope to continue the push for kindness, to ourselves and those around us. A smile, opening the door, giving your time or thanking someone are simple ideas to show kindness. -Ms E Smith