Deyes High students show kindness across the community

During lockdown, Deyes High School felt that the sense of community really kept them all going through the challenges faced by everyone and their students were truly outstanding in supporting each other. From this, the school hatched an idea that gave its students the opportunity to support the community around them and allow them to show how compassionate and resilient they truly are.

And so the ‘Kindness in the Community’ project was born! Designed to reach four key areas of the community: residents, businesses, primary schools, and care homes the school set about ways in which its students could reach out to these areas and offer support and guidance.

The Year 7 pupils were asked to consider what advice they could give to Year 6 students in their local primary schools, including any tips they may have about the transition to high school which would help to ease their minds and to get them excited for the next chapter ahead.

Year 8 pupils used knowledge and experience from their ‘wellbeing’ days to produce posters for local residents, aiming to put a smile on their faces and giving top ‘tips and tricks’ for staying positive during the challenging times.

Year 9 pupils extended this further by working to create some mental health guidance for local businesses so that their staff and customers could use strategies to support their mindset and know that they were not alone and others are thinking about them.

Finally, Year 10 and 11 pupils wrote some excellent letters to local care home residents. These contained some heartfelt messages, happy stories and cheerful conversation to help conquer any feeling of loneliness and keep their spirits lifted as they struggle with the challenges of this past year.

Headteacher Mrs Beaney, said: “Our students stepped up to the challenge, as we knew they would, and the results are truly powerful and heart-warming. They really showed their considerate and caring attitudes and the activities allowed them to echo the support they have given to each other and to staff, into the local community.

“We hope that, as we distribute the letters and posters into the community, their efforts will be rewarded and the benefits will be far reaching.”

You can view some of their student letters at: https://www.deyeshigh.co.uk/news/latest-news/kindness-in-the-comm/