Did you know 1 in 5 young people have a probable mental health condition?
This year’s theme for Children’s Mental Health Week is “Know Yourself, Grow Yourself” in partnership with Place2Be.
We want our students to feel listened too and know they’re not alone. It’s so important we understand what makes them tick, their likes and dislikes, strengths, fears, hopes and dreams. Being aware of how to listen and express themselves is a major part of building self-awareness.
It’s through knowing ourselves and speaking with others that they can build resilience, grow and develop.
At CTK…
This term, our Personal Development lessons have centred around mental health and wellbeing.
In Year 7, students explored what it meant to be healthy both inside and out. They learned about mental health and different strategies to take care of their well-being, and each student received a booklet to take home.
Year 8 students learned about emotional intelligence and self-awareness. Students delved into mindfulness and gained a better understanding of what depression was and how it could affect people.
In Year 9, the focus is on relationships and online interactions. Students discussed the difference between bullying and banter, explored personal growth, and learned about the impact of cyberbullying.
Year 10 covered important topics like self-image, body image in the media, and body positivity, including discussions around obesity. There was also a focus on mental health challenges related to mobile phone use, managing exam stress, and practicing mindful breathing.
Year 11 students worked on building self-esteem and understanding their values. They also had important conversations about topics like pornography, STIs, and coercive control. Plus, they developed useful mental health strategies through activities like mindful colouring, using an anxiety toolbox, practicing active listening, and exploring how social media affected self-esteem.
We have also been discussing mental health and wellbeing throughout the week in our Celebrations of the Word.
On our website, you can find organisations for Students and for Parents. alongside resources for How to Support Your Child which includes Helping with Exam Anxiety.
If you have any concerns about your child, you can contact your child’s form tutor or achievement leader.
Tips for Parents
- Encourage journaling – We encourage students to express their emotions and thoughts through journaling It can be less confronting that speaking out loud, and a helpful way to process what’s going on.
- Make space for reflection – When young people reflect on their different emotions, it can help them better understand themselves and what they need. Why not go for a walk in nature, try some mindful colouring or baking together?
- Be visual – Using imagery, like emojis and flashcards, can help young people recognise their feelings.
- Practice mindfulness – Live in the moment and enjoy mindful activities as a family. This can help young people be aware of their thoughts and emotions.
- Communicate – Feedback is crucial for helping us see our blind spots and gain greater insight, and young people are no different. Creating safe and supportive ways to share your own experience with your child can help them understand themselves and their impact on the world around them.
Click here to download a poster
We encourage all parents to take a look at the fantastic Resources and activities for Children’s Mental Health Week on the Place2Be website. You can also watch a series of videos where famous faces talk about how they deal with various types of anxiety – BAFTA self-awareness video series.
Tips for Students
- Be curious about your emotions – Take notice of your emotions and thoughts, either as they come up or maybe later in the day. You can use techniques like meditation or journaling to help you make sense of what’s going on.
- What matters most – our values are what make us tick, so reflect on what really matters to you. Are you ambitious, funny, kind, creative? Our beliefs can evolve and grow as we get older and have new life experiences, so if you’re feeling lost or confused, take a moment to think about what drives you.
- Feedback, feedback, feedback – Other people we know can often see things about us we miss. Something these can be areas to develop, and sometimes its our strengths. Either way, its great to have a friend, family member or teacher that can help spot our blind spots.
- Get creative – Creativity can often help us express emotions and show parts of ourselves that are sometimes hidden. If you’re feeling blue, painting might help. If you’re feeling happy, song and dance could be the creative outlet for you.
Do you want to help improve and support our schools progress towards becoming OUTSTANDING? We are looking for practising Catholics to become Foundation Governors.
Foundation Governors are practising Catholics who ensure the Catholic nature of the school is maintained. You will meet every half term to discuss ways to improve our school and support us on our journey to becoming OUTSTANDING.
By working in partnership with the school’s leadership team and school community, visiting the school during the day, speaking to pupils, and gathering parent/carer views, you will be helping to drive school improvements.
There are no specific skills required, and no previous experience required, just a passion and drive to want the best for our school. Each governor is allocated an area of responsibility, which can include SEND, Catholic Life and Safeguarding.
For more information, we invite you to attend our Coffee Morning on Tuesday 17th December from 9-10am. This is a fantastic opportunity to meet with our Senior Leadership Team, Governors and colleagues from Our Lady of Lourdes Trust to find out more about the role.
We are inviting all parents and carers of students at Christ the King to stand for election as a parent governor or nominate other parents to do so. In our school we have provision for two parent governors and there is currently one vacancy. The term of office would be for four years.
Each Local Governing Body (LGB) of the 36 schools in the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Multi Academy Trust, of which our school is one, is a committee of the Trust Board and, as such, focuses on understanding how the school is being led and managed at the local level.
The LGB are the ‘eyes and ears’ of the Trust Board and have delegated responsibilities relating to strategy, oversight of Catholic Life and monitoring school improvement, whilst still remembering that the headteacher is responsible for the day to day running of the school.
The LGB also has responsibility for and a duty to the Bishop of Nottingham to ensure that the Catholic character of the school is preserved and developed.
No special qualifications are needed, and the most important thing is to have a keen interest in the school and be prepared to play an active part in the Local Governing Body’s work. Committee meetings are half termly, held at school starting at 5pm till 6.30pm.
Training is available for all governors and there is an expectation that those new to being a governor attend induction training, complete mandatory training, as well as having a commitment to attend other training as necessary.
Candidates at the time of appointment must be a parent, or an individual exercising parental responsibility for a registered pupil at the school.
If you would like to stand for election, please complete the nomination form below and return it to the school no later than 9am Monday 14th October 2024. You should also include a short personal statement to support your nomination, which should be no longer than 250 words. Self-nominations will be accepted but if you are nominating another parent, please seek their prior consent.
If there are more nominations than vacancies, the election will be by secret ballot. If that is necessary, voting papers will be sent to all parents together with details of the ballot procedure.
If you have any queries or would like to find out more about the role, please contact the school office.
Certain people will be ineligible to become a parent governor; the following summarises the circumstances under which someone cannot serve.
- Candidates will not be appointed if they are employed either on a permanent or temporary basis at the school
- Candidates will not be appointed if they are related to a person employed in a senior position at the school (senior position is defined as Executive Head, Head Teacher, Head of School or Deputy Head)
- Candidates will not normally be appointed if they are related to an existing governor of the school.
- Candidates related to a member of the clergy connected to the school would not be appointed.
Further ineligibility criteria would be if the candidate:
- is the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or an interim order, debt relief restrictions order, an interim debt relief restrictions order or their estate has been sequestrated and the sequestration has not been discharged, annulled or reduced is subject to a disqualification order or disqualification undertaking under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986, a disqualification order under Part 2 of the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1989, a disqualification undertaking accepted under the Company Directors Disqualification (Northern Ireland) Order 2002, or an order made under section 429(2)(b) of the Insolvency Act 1986 (failure to pay under county court administration order);
- has been removed from the office of charity trustee or trustee for a charity by the Charity Commission or Commissioners or High Court on grounds of any misconduct or mismanagement, or under section 34 of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 from being concerned in the management or control of any body;
- is included in the list of teachers or workers considered by the Secretary of State as unsuitable to work with children or young people;
- is barred from any regulated activity relating to children;
- is disqualified from working with children or from registering for childminding or providing day care;
- is disqualified from being an independent school proprietor, teacher or employee by the Secretary of State;
- has been sentenced to three months or more in prison (without the option of a fine) in the five years before becoming a governor or since becoming a governor;
- has received a prison sentence of two years or more in the 20 years before becoming a governor;
- has at any time received a prison sentence of five years or more;
- has been fined for causing a nuisance or disturbance on school premises during the five years prior to or since appointment or election as a governor;
- refuses a request by the clerk to make an application to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for a DBS Check.
Term 1a
- Thursday 19th Sep – Open Evening 5.30 – 7.30pm
- Thurs 26th Sep – Dear Evan Hansen Theatre Trip 12pm Meet at in the dining hall; Pick up at CTK 5pm (Approx)
11DR1 Performance Exam
- Mon 7th Oct – Exam Day 1 Tech 11DR1
- Tues 8th Oct Exam Day 2 Recording 11DR1 (non-uniform)
11DR2 Performance Exam
- Weds 9th Oct – Exam Day 1 Tech 11DR2
- Thurs 10th Oct – Exam Day 2 Recording 11DR2 (non-uniform)
11DR2 Evaluation Exam
- Weds 16th Oct (Period 1 and 2) – Evaluation Exam 1.5hrs; 2 x sides of A4 notes
11DR1 Evaluation Exam
- Thurs 17th Oct (Period 1 and 2) – Evaluation Exam 1.5hrs; 2 x sides of A4 notes
Term 1b
- Thurs 7th Nov – A Raisin in the Sun Theatre Trip 12pm Meet in the dining hall; Pick up at CTK at 5pm (approx.)
- Portfolio of Supporting Evidence – DRAFT 1 submission date 21st November
- Y11 Mock – w/b 2nd December
- Portfolio of Evidence FINAL DRAFT – Thursday 19th December
Term 2a
- Comp 2 PREP for visiting examiner
Term 2b
- March/April – Comp 2 Performance Exams with Visiting Examiner
Term 3a
- 8th May – Comp 3 Written EXAM
To celebrate World Book Day, Mrs Myatt’s Year 10 English Class worked to develop a Masked Reader Video to be shown during Tutor Time on World Book Day.
Staff volunteered to read a passage from their favourite books, and went on to have their voices disguised and identities hidden, in the style of the TV show, the Masked Singer.
Students assisted with editing, choosing the distorted voices and which emoji’s would suit the staff best. They also helped with transitions on the video, and intro and outro cards.
Can you guess who’s behind the mask?
