Hi everyone,

My name is Jen and I am the new School Wellbeing Counsellor at CRC St Albans.  I want to say a big thank you, to those of you whom I have met.  Already I feel welcomed, and have been able to gain insights into your kind, warm and collaborative community.  If we are yet to meet, please feel free to say hello.  I am always up for a chat.

My background as a social worker has gifted me the experience of working predominantly in the public health sector.  I am excited for the change and opportunity to bring my skills and expertise into the school space.

Prior to social work, I was a professional dancer which led me to becoming a part time yoga teacher and facilitator of creative pursuits.  My passion for personal wellbeing and the holistic wellness of others has provided me with a bag of tricks!  Out of work, you will find me fairly active with yoga, walks in nature and spending time with family and friends.  I also enjoy my down time as a lover of movies, coffee and baths!

As we acknowledge the challenges that the world has collectively embraced in the past few years, something I think we are all learning is to release expectations and go with the flow.  Perhaps even offering ourselves love and compassion as we accept what is.  This certainly is not always easy.  Yet the beauty is that we all have a story to tell, a life experience that is uniquely our own and somehow deeply connected to this human thing we call 'life'.

I am grateful and excited to be of service to your school community.  In previous work places I am better known as “Jen Zen”.  I love creating spaces that feel safe and welcoming and can inspire us all to be the best versions of ourselves.  Whether it is something big or small, I am here to support you. 

Rumi said ‘If light is in your heart, you will find your way home’. A beautiful reminder that everything starts with us.  If we can find the courage to live from our hearts, we can be that lighthouse, radiating joy, love and peace in a world that most certainly needs it now.

Jen Comerford - Student Wellbeing Counsellor

As we welcome back our school community we also use the first few weeks to get to know one another and form strong teaching and learning relationships. Students have completed ‘Learner Profiles’  where they have shared a little about themselves and their families with their teachers and teachers have done the same. Staff have worked hard to create consistent predictable routines and ensure we are creating environments where all our students and staff feel a strong sense of belonging.

Character Strengths

We believe everyone is unique and have something different to offer. Over the next week students will unpack and share their Character Strengths and celebrate their similarities and differences with one another in Pastoral Care.

What are Character Strengths?

They are the qualities that come most natural to you.

• Every individual possesses all 24-character strengths in different degrees, giving each person a unique character or strength profile.
• When you know your strengths, you can improve your life and thrive.
• Research reveals that people who use their strengths a lot are 18 times more likely to be flourishing than those who do not use their strengths.
• Character strengths are a vehicle for improving wellbeing and providing a sense of purpose and hope.

If family members would like to complete the VIA Character Strengths Profile and share and celebrate with your child, you can do so by visiting this website: https://www.viacharacter.org/survey/account/register#youth

Character Strength of the Week

Love (Virtue of Humanity)

Valuing close relations with others, in particular, those in which sharing & caring are reciprocated; being close to people.

Focus your attention on strong, positive relationships. 5 simple reminders to help you boost your connections with those around you: https://youtu.be/659Wkb8KNpg

Back to school with strengths: https://youtu.be/FNNhDhtrAjw

Friendly February

Please see attached this month's calendar theme: Friendly February for you to reflect upon with students, family and friends.

We need each other more than ever right now!

This month let's focus on reaching out to connect with others and doing our best to be a good friend/teacher. Our acts of kindness and connection ripple out and impact so many more people than we realise - and they also boost our own happy hormones too! In stressful times people around us may be feeling the strain, so let's try to keep calm, take time to listen and show compassion.

Dale Marshall - Wellbeing for Learning Leader