Dr. Alka Saxena, Deputy Director (Health & Wellness), Blue Bells Group of Schools, Gurugram (www.wellnesswise.in)
“Wellbeing is about the combination of our love for what we do each day, the quality of our relationships, the security of our finances, the vibrancy of our physical health, and the pride we take in what we have contributed to our communities. Most importantly, it’s about how these five elements interact.” – Tom Rath
Life is a beautiful journey that is meant to be embraced to the fullest every day. In the fast-paced life of today, we tend to forget this very aspect, and sometimes need a reminder that life is a great gift. According to the World Happiness Report 2023, India is ranked at No. 126, an improvement from the previous year but still far behind its close neighbors. Numerous factors contribute to the persistent unhappiness of the nation and poor mental well-being is one among them. The report says, “The objective of every institution should be to contribute what it can to human well-being,”, which includes accounting for future generations and preserving basic human rights. Schools play a pivotal role in guiding, channelizing, and harnessing the unbridled talents of children.
With the advancement in technology, today’s students are exposed to a wide variety of information, which can have a significant impact on their physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. It is essential that modern children are encouraged to be more engaged and involved in various aspects of learning. In a supportive environment such as a school, where there is an emphasis on social and emotional learning in addition to academics, students have a better chance of enhancing self-awareness, confidence, and becoming socially responsible citizens. In such circumstances a comprehensive Health & Wellness Program for children plays a crucial role in preparing our young ones to face the many challenges and complexities they will encounter as they grow and navigate their way through life.
A school can play a significant role here and provide a holistic education to children, one that nurtures values, life skills, and wellness. Values provide an ethical foundation, life skills equip children with practical tools, and wellness fosters their physical and emotional health. Together, these elements create a strong foundation for children to navigate life’s challenges, make responsible choices, and lead fulfilling and purposeful lives.
‘A health promoting school is one that constantly strengthens its capacity as a healthy setting for living, learning and working.’ (WHO)
Health promoting schools strive to provide:
- a) An environment conducive to students’ health and education.
- b) School health services along with school/community projects and outreach opportunities for physical education and recreation, social support and mental health promotion.
(CBSE School Health Manual Vol. 1)
The Health & Wellness Program encompasses various components. These are designed not only to impart knowledge but also to foster personal growth, physical, social, and emotional well-being, and practical life skills.
- Life Skills & Value Education Classes: These classes are integrated into the curriculum and use age-appropriate short films, discussions, activities, and workbooks to instill values and life skills in students, thus enhancing their resilience to face the adversities of life.
- Peer Educator Program: This program encourages students to become Peer Educators, fostering leadership and effective communication skills. Peer Educators from various classes work as a bridge between mentors and students, conducting sessions and awareness campaigns on various topics.
- Group Work for Students: Regular group sessions across all age groups sensitize students to themes related to health & well-being, which further help students develop social skills,including teamwork, communication, and cooperation. The ability to work effectively in groups is invaluable in the workplace. Some of the group work that can be taken up are Building Empathy, Understanding Emotions, Study Skills & Goal Setting, Examination Stress and many more These sessions empower our students for future collaborative endeavors that are crucial in professional and personal life.
- Importance of Physical well-being of Students: A school’s Health & Wellness Program can be dedicated to nurturing the physical health of the students. Within the framework of life skills classes, invaluable insights to encourage the students to adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle can be taught. In these sessions, the school can empower students with essential knowledge and practical tips about following a healthy diet, importance of exercise and sleep, having seasonal fruits, home cooked food and drinking sufficient water at regular intervals. In our efforts tofoster informed decision-making, we can educate students about the adverse effects of certain choices like, excessive caffeine consumption, reliance on energy drinks, and the risks associated with processed and fatty foods.
- Global Health Events: Observing global health-related events like World No Tobacco Day, World Health Day, World Food Day, World Mental Health Day serves as a powerful educational tool to instill in children the importance of physical & mental health. By fostering a culture of health-consciousness, we are not only enhancing their overall quality of life but also empowering them to excel academically and thrive in all aspects of their educational journey.
- Medical Room: In an endeavor to take care of the physical well-being of students, a well-equipped Medical Room in the school with visiting Doctors and full time, trained nurses to provide necessary first aid to the students in time of emergency. An Annual Health Check-up is a regular feature along with maintaining medical record of each and every child. Health advisory on prevention of various illnesses like Swine Flu, Dengue, Chicken Pox etc. is also a regular feature. Health education is also imparted to the teachers and staff members on handling students with special health needs like Diabetes, seizures etc.
- Individual attention through Counseling & Guidance: Personalized support should be provided to students through individual counseling to address emotional, behavioral, and academic issues, thereby helping them cope with stress, anxiety, and other emotional challenges.
- Inclusive Education and Special Education Needs (SEN): A health promoting school is committed to nurturing every child’s unique potential, especially those with special education needs (SEN). An inclusive approach needs to be followed. Identification is a collaborative effort among teachers, counselors, and parents
- Safety & Security: The School ensures that all children in their care grow and develop in a safe and secure environment. An Anti-Bullying Committee, Child Abuse Monitoring Committee and sessions for creating awareness regarding POCSO and POSH Act should be regular features and various policies and processes are the need of the hour.
- Parenting Workshops and Teacher Training Programs: Teacher training and parenting workshops play an essential role in promoting the overall well-being of students. Our Advanced teacher training workshop and Raahein- A Positive Parenting Guide workshops empower both (parents & teachers) the pillars of the child’s growing years with right skills and knowledge to create nurturing environments at school and home.
In today’s competitive world most people find themselves at crossroads. We need to remember that it is essential to have a balance between our physical as well as mental well- being.
The Health & Wellness Program at Blue Bells Group of Schools, Gurugram is designed with a clear vision: to empower all children with the skills, knowledge, and awareness necessary for their health and well-being. This program has a rich history, spanning over 12 years, during which it has consistently strived to raise awareness, foster sensitivity, and enhance skills among all stakeholders. The program lays emphasis on understanding the developmental needs of students. A wide array of sessions, events, and activities empowers students with the necessary tools and skills needed to address the challenges of day-to-day life. We also believe in empowering all stakeholders by reaching out to them through our posts on various platforms and our blog, Wellness Wise by Dr.Alka .You can explore our writings on www.wellnesswise.in.
The school believes that the children are vibrant with vigor and talent and a special emphasis is therefore laid on development of both EQ and IQ. It is our sincere endeavor to impart excellent and quality education so that the dreams of our dear students find fruition and they turn out as empowered citizens of the nation.
