Thought-provoking new books, activities in tutor times, an engaging broadcast for older boys, a dinner party for younger boys, and the return of the whole school Listeners’ Treasure Hunt; boys have been immersed in the topic of mental health more than ever this week. The theme of this year’s Children’s Mental Health Week (CMHW) has been at the centre of all of it: My Voice Matters.
The Caldicott Listeners are a group of senior boys trained by the Charlie Waller Trust who have volunteered to act as a sympathetic ear for their peers who need someone to talk to or have any worries. Some children prefer the option to talk to another child rather than an adult. The Listeners spoke brilliantly in last week’s assembly as they introduced ‘My Voice Matters’ as the theme for this year’s CMHW. Children’s Rights are written in the UN convention; Article 12 says that all children have the right to have a view or opinion about something and that adults should listen to them and take their views seriously.
After the success of last year, the Listeners also reintroduced the Listeners’ Treasure Hunt which ran throughout each lunch time every day this week and saw boys teaming up and racing around the school solving clues and noting down the wellbeing tips on each new clue. The Lower School boys also enjoyed their dinner party on Wednesday afternoon which gave them time to chat and make polite conversation. Taking time to chat with your friends, and check in on them, is always important, and these boys also learnt some valuable dinner party etiquette along the way.
