Getting Students Wild about Well-Being
August 26, 2010
Recess is a time to eat - and play! The Recess Freeplay programme includes options such as Jenga.
It felt almost like a rock concert. The crowd was full of energy and on their feet, waving their hands in the air. They knew the words to every song. When the magic words, "Who wants to come on stage?" were uttered, everyone started clamouring for a coveted spot on the platform.
Never mind that these were just seven-year-old pupils. On a Wednesday afternoon at Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Primary) (PLMGS), the Grow in Faith and Truth (GIFT) programme was in full swing. It's designed to promote desirable values through games, story-telling and songs, and is carried out by parent volunteers.
Believing that the home and school spheres should overlap, parent volunteer Mrs Renee Wee-van de Bult observes, "I see how much the children enjoy it when you are around and how they cherish the fact that you are interested in what is going on in school." Fellow parent volunteer Mrs Christina Chai adds that the children benefit from having the "Aunties" around, as their presence shows that "we are here to support you as a parent, and also as your friends."
The GIFT programme is just one of many in place at PLMGS to promote better physical, social, mental and emotional well-being in the school community. Little wonder that the school's efforts have garnered them the Platinum CHERISH (CHampioning Efforts Resulting in Improved School Health) award from the Health Promotion Board, which recognises schools that have comprehensive programmes to foster good physical, social and emotional health. This caps off PLMGS's previous achievement: attaining the Gold CHERISH award for two CHERISH cycles (i.e. four years).