Dear GIS Community,

I am thrilled to be writing the inaugural wellbeing article for the WRGIS newsletter. As you all may know, we are embarking on a transformative journey at GIS as wellbeing, rightly so, becomes one of our key priorities. The importance of a rich wellbeing diet at school cannot be underestimated and the research overwhelming supports this. Anderson et al. (2018) underscores the positive correlation between wellbeing and academic success. Furthermore, he also highlights that when students feel well-supported and emotionally balanced, they are better equipped to engage in their studies. This is clearly something that we would like to tap into at GIS.

Crucial to the success of our wellbeing initiative is the presence of a clear vision. Johnson and Smith (2020) emphasize that a well-defined wellbeing vision can drive positive change within a school community. With this in mind, we have carefully crafted a vision that reflects our commitment to fostering a culture of wellbeing for all at GIS.

Our wellbeing program's success will depend on the active engagement of our entire school community. This is emphasized by Roberts (2019) who states that the most effective wellbeing initiatives involve everyone - students, parents, and teachers. It is through collaboration and shared responsibility that we hope to create an environment that is underpinned by respect, trust and ambition and where everyone feels valued, supported, and is able to flourish.

I want to assure you that this initiative is not a half-hearted attempt to provide a holistic wellbeing diet for our students, it is the beginning of a cultural shift. It is an affirmation of our commitment to the social, emotional and physical development of each member of our community. As we take these initial steps, I invite you all to join us in this exciting journey. Together, we will ensure that wellbeing is not just a buzzword but a lived reality for everyone at GIS.

Over the course of this academic year, you will hear more about wellbeing at GIS and the initiatives we have planned as part of our journey as we collectively create a school culture where wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do.

With warm regards,

Mr. Lewis Griffiths & Ms. Alisha Muir

Heads of Wellbeing