In our commitment to improving staff and student wellbeing across the school, our staff recently began the journey of Visible Wellbeing training.  The Visible Wellbeing approach aims to provide both students and staff with a psychological toolkit that allows them to lead flourishing lives where they are able to feel and function at their best.  We discussed the current state of mental health and stress for young people, and learned about using the illbeing-wellbeing spectrum to self-inquire about our current state of mental health, and explored ways that other schools support their communities to boost their wellbeing.

Our staff learnt about the practice of making wellbeing visible to ourselves and those around us – through the “See Hear Feel” practice.  “See Hear Feel” is a process of thinking and language use that clues us into the physical, visual and auditory signals that allow us insight into how we or other people may be feeling in the present moment.  These insights allow us to make choices and act in ways that are more effective in increasing and maintaining higher levels of wellbeing.  Staff have begun to implement the See Hear Feel practice by using the language in classrooms, in classroom agreements, linking this language to the learning pit and our learning dispositions.  If you’re interested in exploring this practice at home, you may like to try the See Hear Feel practice when watching television with your kids, and promoting discussion about how you know what characters in some of your favourite series are thinking and feeling!

- Felicity Davies, Visible Wellbeing Coordinator for St Joseph's School, Kingswood