School Holidays have proven to be highly beneficial for teachers, students and their families for overall mental health and well-being.
From juggling various responsibilities across academic classes and extracurricular activities, to after school part-time work and social lives, it can be a real challenge for Springwood State High School students to keep up with their responsibilities to meet high academic goals.
While school holidays are a good time for our students to try their hand at part-time or casual work, it is also important that there is sufficient time factored in for rest and rejuvenation.
This said, here are the five benefits behind rest and rejuvenation throughout the September School Holidays for students and families:
#1 Mental Break
While we encourage students to excel in all things Academia both inside and out of school, taking days off occasionally can provide our students with the mental break they need to restore a sense of balance, reset, and be engaged when they go back to school.
In a series of recent studies, short physical activity breaks in the classroom improved students' behaviour, increasing the effort they put into their activities as well as their ability to stay on task.
Breaks keep our brains healthy and play a key role in cognitive abilities such as reading comprehension and divergent thinking.
School Holidays are the optimal time to rest and reset, so that students have the boost they need to do their best when back at school.
Tips for taking a Mental Break
- Muscle Relaxation: How often are we truly mindful of the muscles in our body? With this activity, children can start practicing mindfulness around how they tense or relax their muscles.
- Nature Walk: Embark on an outdoor walk that will encourage students to engage in all their five senses in observation.
#2 Family Time
One of the massive benefits to the school holidays is to provide families with the opportunity to reconnect, spend time together and celebrate.
While academic excellence is at the forefront of everything that we do here at Springwood State High School, school holidays allow students to shift their focus from schoolwork to catching up with family and friends. Being able to take a step back from school during the school holidays enables our students to get back to their roots and family culture and return to school reenergised and ready to succeed at Springwood State High School.
Tips for Family Time
- Family Outings: Taking the time to grab an ice cream as a family can be a very special memory as our students grow.
- Family Heritage: Exploring your family heritage and connecting with your roots can be a very grounding and educational experience for students.
#3 Physical Health
Did you know physical exercise boosts brain health?
Oftentimes overlooked are the physical health benefits our students can experience throughout the school holidays.
Rest and sleep have been shown to have a positive impact on our immune system and reduce inflammation and decrease the risk of heart disease.
Constant worry can lead to chronic stress, and students have been reported to be more likely to suffer higher levels of stress, which can have a physical and mental impact.
When students can focus on their own mental health and well-being, they undoubtedly become more in balance and attuned with themselves. With reduced stress and anxiety, students' energy levels are boosted, enabling them to get outdoors in the sunshine and move their bodies.
Tips for Physical Health
- Think Local: Check out your local community centre for various fitness and sporting activities that can support socialisation and community engagement for students.
- Connect with Nature: Go for a walk through your local park or sporting ground and connect with nature.
#4 Boost performance & creativity
Did you know new experiences improve cognitive flexibility as well as prepares students for academic challenges, while increasing student productivity and enhancing creativity and overall performance?
Students are more likely to come back to finish the school year strong after they have had the opportunity to spend time in different environments, creating lifelong memories.
Connecting with family, friends and the community provides opportunities for our students to learn important life skills and helps them manage their own emotions and behaviour, while having free reign to explore new ideas without fear of failure or the stress of grades.
Tips to Boost Performance & Creativity
- Exploring New Places: Taking a trip to a location never travelled before can spark a sense of interest and curiosity.
- Volunteering: Volunteering to clean up the beach or park, helping at a nursing home or animal shelter, or deliver meals to the elderly.
#5 Learning doesn't have to stop
School Holidays should not mean that all learning simply ceases.
Fit for any budget, trips to a museum are both fun and educational and just one example of the many interactive experiences available that will create memorable learning moments for both students and families.
For time poor families, it's an opportunity to embrace the challenges that school holidays bring. So, letting students work through their feelings of being unsure of what to do will undoubtedly lead them to find creative ways to keep themselves entertained and experience the world through their own eyes throughout the school holidays.
Tips for Interactive Learning
- Spike Curiosity: At the supermarket, asking your child about where certain products come from can foster curiosity
- World Events: Discuss current events into what is happening in the world to drive community connectivity
Here at Springwood State High School, building student happiness, growth, and engagement at school and in the community are crucial when it comes to student success.
That is why it is key for our students to unwind, relax, and rejuvenate throughout the school holidays so they can return to the classroom with a renewed sense of passion and enthusiasm.
Springwood State High School is committed to providing excellence in 21st Century Teaching and Learning within a Culture of Care.