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ELSA Blog

Sometimes you just need to look out for YOU!

28/4/2020

 
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Self care? What is Self Care?

Hello my wonderful VPS family!

I hope the timetables on my previous post were useful for you and now you can start to structure your day better!I have found that having a routine for the day helps me to stay calm and on task? Does it help you too? It's so important to have a work/play balance in your day! Make sure you do at least one thing you love in a day! Today I want to talk about the different forms of SELF CARE! 

What is self care?
'
Self care is taking care of yourself, whether that be physically or mentally, it doesn’t mean you’re selfish if you do things in a manner that pleases you, instead of others. Self care can be done by yourself, or with other people' - Children's Society.


Self care is taking part in any activity that makes YOU feel happy! 

There are SO many ways you can take care of yourself. We know the importance of being physically healthy (exercise, staying fit, eating well) but keeping mentally healthy is very important too.

Self care will look very different for each and every one of you!

Getting up, brushing your teeth, having a wash, eating breakfast is an important start to self care ( it will make you feel fresh and ready to start the day). 

A routine/schedule will be enough self care for some of you as it might make you feel more in control of your day!​ However some of you may...

  • read a book in a quiet corner.
  • draw and doodle for an hour
  • have a cuddle from a relative in your home.
  • paint your nails 
  • get stuck into a task
  • connect with a friend on social media
  • build something from crafts/lego
  • have a long relaxing bath!
  • watch a favourite film
  • Sit quietly and think of a happy place!
  • write down thoughts and emotions
  • List all the things that make you great!
  • listen to a song 
  • Eat a favourite snack

The list is endless on what you can do to take care of yourself - mentally and physically! We are all unique on what makes us feel happy and how we love and appreciate ourselves.


I have attached a link to a ELSA support document which talks about having an A to Z  of Self Care! On this link you can print out a blank one and create your own :)

How can you make sure you include Self Care in your day! You can show me on Purple Mash or send in your photos to admin@virginia.towerhamlets.sch.uk.
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​​https://www.elsa-support.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/A-to-z-OF-SELF-CARE.pdf
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Time for a Home School Timetable?

27/4/2020

 
​Hello everyone, 

First of all, Ramadan Mubarak to those who are observing this holy month! Breaking fast with your families must be such a special time and I am sending my best wishes to you all.

The sunshine has been glorious this weekend, I have really enjoyed pottering about in the garden making it look tidy and pretty again. My friend is currently growing a sunflower for me! I LOVE sunflowers - they just put such a smile on my face :)

How was your weekend? Did you have a nice time? I know lots of you have been baking and doing different arts and crafts. I love to see your updates on Purple Mash!


Big smiles!
Emily



​

Today I want to talk to you about the importance of timetables/routine for our mental health and well-being!


See the timetables below!!
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Is home learning a bit difficult? Read below on how a timetable may help you!
​

Life is different at the moment and our days may be really stressful. For your parents it is different too. They will try to help you learn and  try to make sure that the home school learning is being completed but it might not always go to plan (which is OK-  things happen as we know!). For children it may feel like you have lots to do but no idea on how to complete it all and how to structure your day!

Having a timetable/routine to help structure your day is really good for your mental health.  It can make you feel more in control of your day and can make you feel like you have achieved your tasks!

A normal school day is designed around a timetable to make sure that we cover as much as the curriculum (different subjects) as as possible. Timetables help us to understand what we will be doing. We also use them so there is a fair spread of activities to keep children engaged and make sure that children spend the right amount of time on each subject.

​
I have designed some timetables (one for KS1 and one for KS2) to help you create a home school schedule, routine or timetable that works for you when home learning! I will attach the files so you can download and adapt how you would like.

Parents - This is only a suggestion of how a home learning  could be structured. Use only if needed :)


my_home_activities_timetable_ks2.docx
File Size: 200 kb
File Type: docx
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my_home_activities_timetable_ks1.docx
File Size: 200 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

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For parents/carers:

The Education Endowment Foundation (EFF) have produced a series of checklists to help parents and children manage their routines.

Supporting home learning routines: Planning the day
https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/public/files/Publications/Covid-19_Resources/Resources_for_parents/Supporting_home_learning_routines_-_Planning_the_day.pdf

All the EEF materials to support home learning can be found here: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/covid-19-resources#nav-covid-19-resources
Family Time activities can be anything from completing a puzzle, baking a cake, having a circle time together, debating a topic or just general play. 

We encourage this if you have time to do so.
It may be a nice way to connect as a family and take a break from the worries of the world.
Physical Activity is also really important for your mental and physical well-being.

There are lots of things you can do at home. There are many YouTube PE lessons etc to follow.

A walk is suggested and encouraged  but parents this is ultimately your decision. 

5 a day Well-being

23/4/2020

 
Good morning everyone, 

I hope you are well.  This sunshine is such a gift at a time like this - I have been enjoying pottering about in my garden and then I spent the afternoon baking.
I made my first ever banana loaf! What have you been baking? We would love to see! Upload your yummy food on Purple Mash or send it in! 

I am trying to upload my blog every few days as I know how busy you are with your incredible class learning but I like to give you some things that I think may help your well-being throughout this time.

As you know  there are lots of rainbows, as a symbol of gratitude or hope, around at the moment. The lovely Debbie at ELSA support has created a resource that combines well-being and rainbows. 

The 5 a day for well-being is really helpful at the moment for everyone. You can read about it here on the MIND website (for parents and carers). Below it explains the 5 a day approaches you can take to look after your own wellbeing.

Children you can colour the rainbow for your window and use one of the small ones each day to colour in each time you manage to achieve one of the aims! 

DO NOT worry if do not have a printer! I've included a YouTube video for you to draw your own rainbow. After you have drawn your rainbow you can label it, and add colour to it each time you manage to achieve one of the well-being aims. :)
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Take care everyone! Keep washing your hands!

Big Emily!
Smiles!
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rainbow-wellbeing.pdf
File Size: 588 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

You can print and download the rainbows from this file. <<<<<< 

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Meditation Matters

21/4/2020

 

How meditation could help you!

Hello everybody!

I hope you are now settled into home learning after the Easter holidays. Some of you might be flying through the work set for you but some of you might be struggling. If you are feeling a bit overwhelmed I would like you to try something called 'meditation'.

Our minds can sometimes be a busy and challenging place to be. Our thoughts can whirl around our head - good thoughts and bad. We may begin to think about the future - but that is not worth stressing too much over as we don't know what could happen in the future! You might also think about things you wish you didn't do in the past - but we cant do much to change that either!
​
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Hope you like this picture! I haven't drawn in a while.
Meditation can help us to quieten down these thoughts that make us not feel so good. It can make you feel calm and peaceful which is great for your mind and allows you to have a better day!


You can meditate in lots of different ways - It might feel quite weird at first but I am sure you will get the hang of it!

Go and find somewhere in your house that is a quiet place... I know this may be tricky but see if you can!  Now close your eyes.....


1. Think of a word or a sound that you find calming... It could me 'laaaaaaaa' or 'flower'. Say it softly in your head over and over again.



2. Start at 20 and slowly count down to zero with each deep breath you take. 


3. Imagine you are in your happy place. It can be somewhere made up or somewhere you know. What can you see, hear, feel, smell?! Spend some time there in your mind.
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Ideas from 'Whats Going On Inside My Head' - Molly Potter/Sarah Jennings.
Here is a video you may like to play whilst you meditate. It is beautiful and gives you a task to follow too.
I hope you try some meditation in your daily routines!

Big Smiles!
​Emily x

A new term...

19/4/2020

 

First Blog of Summer Term!

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Hello everybody,

I hope that you all had a restful and enjoyable Easter even if it may of felt a little bit strange. It really is a time where we might feel as if everything is a bit 'strange' or 'different'. If you are feeling like that, you are not alone. A lot of children,  adults too, will be having the same thoughts as you.

I have shared and will continue to share ways you can manage these feelings over the next few weeks in my blog and on Purple Mash.

I have put some photos of what I have been up to on my blog today. As you know I have asthma ( I know some of you have asthma too as we've shared how we look after our condition) so I have to be really careful when I go outside. I need to wear a mask (my neighbour made me a leopard print one!) and sometimes I wear gloves (If I don't wear them I wash my hands lots and try not to touch anything but the handles of my bike) but I have been going outside for an hour a day on my bike to not only look after my physical health but its a really good way to look after my mental health too. 


I have put some photos of what I have seen whilst on my travels around where I live.

​Can you spot Canary Wharf?




​​
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There was an incredible display of rocks with heartwarming messages on a river bank close to my house that really made me smile. 
They were made by a group of families who are from my community. What a lovely thing to do!


Something I also want to share is that we have some new children joining our VPS family! A big warm welcome to you all. 

VPS children - I have created a 'welcome' blog on Purple Mash (Emily's ELSA Blog) for you to share your thoughts and introduce yourselves and our school.


Remember...
Teachers and support staff are still here to listen to you if you need us. Purple Mash has been such a great way of connecting with different pupils across the school! If you are still unsure of how to use Purple Mash at home let your teachers know by contacting us by email  admin@virginia.towerhamlets.sch.uk
and we can hopefully sort it out for you.


Take Care - Big Smiles!

Emily 



​
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April Well-being Calendar...

3/4/2020

 
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Good morning lovely people!
Wow I cannot believe that another term is over! Even though spring term has been difficult there has still been lots of learning and memories made before we had to close the school.  For many of us, the Easter holiday will feel very strange but it is still a time for you to switch off, enjoy family time and do all the little things in life that bring you some happiness!

I will still be available on Purple Mash so you can check in on my ELSA blog there! I will try to give you more P4C questions and different tasks you can do if you wish too!

However I would like to leave you with this for the Easter Holidays! 
This is a resource from ELSA to support families at home that don’t have the facility for printing.
There are 30 different prompts to do something throughout April. This will help to keep you children busy and to continue to look after your well-being.

The image below is only a screen shot! Click on the link below and scroll for the full clear image.
april-calendar.pdf
File Size: 2828 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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Have a restful Easter! Remember to use Purple Mash if you would like to check in with us!

Big smiles!
Emily

Bucket List Jar!

2/4/2020

 
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Hello everyone,

I hope everyone is OK! 

I am super excited as my keyboard is arriving today!

I have always wanted to learn how to play the piano, but I have never had the time - so I am planning to use my free time at the moment practising as much as I can!  What new skill would you like to learn?
You might be learning a new skill at the moment -
I would love to know what you are learning.
Post on my ELSA blog to share if you are!

The VPS team really love connecting with you on Purple Mash!
​All of your wonderful learning is bringing smiles to us all.


Today I would like to share with you something I saw online.

It's an 'End of Isolation Bucket List Jar'. (example below)

To do this activity follow these instructions :
  • Find a jar of any kind ( you can also use a box, container etc) that has a lid.
  • Write down all the things you would like to do when things start to go back to how they were.
  • Everytime you or a member of your family want to go somewhere or want to visit a certain relative you can add it to your jar!


The best bit about this jar....Once we are allowed to go out again you can pick one thing at a time to go and do as a family! :)


Take care!
Big Smiles :)
Emily

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