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2021 World Mental Health Day
2021 World Mental Health Day
On Sunday, Oct 10, 2021the world will celebrate World Mental Health Day. The overall objective of World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health. The theme for this year is about mental health care for all.
Without a doubt, the Covid-19 pandemic has created significant mental health issues that not only affects adults but also teenagers and children. Nobody is free from the impact of the global pandemic. Everyone is struggling to keep up with the changes, the agony and the impact of sudden disruptions and almost constant change.
Unfortunately, not all people are able to receive professional psychological help, especially those who live in a community that doesn’t recognize the importance of maintaining mental health during adversities.
Thankfully, our community has a strong awareness of the importance of mental health and maintaining personal wellbeing. The student body, parents, schools officials and faculty members are working hand in hand to promote and support mental health in our Global Jaya community.
Mental health awareness is not only about receiving mental health care but also about communities being there for each other and supporting each other in times of need. By providing support, we are not only promoting a healthy school environment, we also increase our own self-esteem, empathy and compassion, as well as improving our own mood. Helping others can decrease blood pressure and cortisol, a stress hormone which directly impacts stress levels. People who give of themselves in a balanced way also tend to be healthier and happier.
We can take care of each other’s mental health and wellbeing by doing daily simple act of kindness, such as:
● Call or initiate a chat with a friend, especially the ones who are new in this community
● Greet others
● Share genuine compliments
● Include others who we notice are segregated
On the other hand, it is also important to emphasize the importance of seeking help when you recognise that you need it. It is okay not to be okay and to know when it’s time to ask for emotional support from friends, family, teachers, advisors, counsellors/psychologists.
In conclusion, mental health care can start from our smallest circle. It is impossible to only rely on the mental health professionals, since this resource is not always available. But it is not impossible to build a strong support system in our community so that all of us can develop our healthy, safe and supportive environment in order to provide care for all members.
“World Mental Health Day 2021.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, www.who.int/campaigns/world-mental-health-day/2021.
“The Art of Kindness.” Mayo Clinic Health System, www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/the-art-of-kindness
School Uniform
School Uniform
As we move beyond the orientation events and our first two weeks of blended learning, we see that students are now settling into their new routines and are engaging in learning, irrespective of the physical place in which they are learning from.
In order to support students in their transition to blended learning and to learning from campus, we approached the application of our uniform and dress code policy with flexibility and understanding. This period of flexibility was important in ensuring that the students felt comfortable transitioning to campus. This period of time has also provided families with the opportunity to visit the school shop, go to the hairdressers, meet with the tailor and stop by the mall to pick up the necessary footwear.
Once we return to blended learning, following the October break, it is our hope that all students will be well placed to attend campus based learning, wearing the appropriate uniform as captured in the images below and further outlined in our school uniform and dress code policy.
If, for some reason, it is not possible for your child to fully comply with our uniform and dress code expectations, please contact the Dean of Students on vicki@globaljaya.com
Years 7 - 9 GJS School Uniform
Years 10 - 12 GJS School Uniform
Child Protection at Global Jaya School is Everybody’s Business
Child Protection at Global Jaya School is Everybody’s Business
As blended learning begins and we transition to having students on campus, the child protection team has been focusing on what additional steps we can take to ensure that GJS students are safe and protected.
We believe that child protection is everybody’s responsibility and that we all have a role to play,
“Global Jaya School (GJS) is committed to promoting and protecting the safety and the well-being of the children in its care. GJS believes that all children have a right to feel safe and to be safe, not only when they are at school, but also when they participate in school activities outside the school and when they are learning online; therefore, it is our belief that all students have equal rights to protection from acts of abuse whether they occur at school or off campus. GJS believes that child protection reflects its core values and everyone working at the school is responsible for ensuring that the right to protection and access to confidential support systems are available to all community members.” GJS Child Protection Policy, page 2
Over the course of the last 15 months, we have held child protection related workshops for parents and have built an advisory curriculum that teaches our students how to advocate for themselves and make safe choices. We have led several whole school workshops with the teaching staff so that they are fully aware of how we define abuse as well as what to do about it if they suspect that a GJS student is at risk.
As part of supporting child protection in a blended learning environment, we invited all support staff who have any interactions with students to attend a child protection presentation on Friday 24th September. We shared our definition of abuse and signs to look out for. Staff were put in teams and given various different scenarios to discuss in order to agree on what action should be taken in each situation.
They say it takes a village to raise a child; at GJS we believe that it takes a community to keep a child safe.
*Our definition of abuse, links to local laws and procedures in case abuse is suspected can all be found in The Global Jaya School Child Protection Policy.
**Parents or students can report suspected cases of emotional, physical, sexual abuse or neglect by emailing secondarychildprotection@globaljaya.com Please note that using physical force to discipline a child is against the law in Indonesia and, in such cases, the school will always take action.
Blended Learning: Versatility & Resilience in Action!
Blended Learning: Versatility & Resilience in Action!
Taking a walk around campus today, our first day of blended learning, and I was struck by the resourcefulness and versatility of our community.
After a prolonged period of learning from home and in isolation from the world and their peers, our students adopted and adapted to HBL, the new way of learning. Students had to acquire or strengthen self-advocacy and self-management skills as they tried to figure out how to turn their home space into their school space. The wide scale upheavals caused by the pandemic demanded resourcefulness, tenacity and versatility from all members of the Global Jaya community. As we take our first tentative steps into blended learning, we find ourselves again at a point of huge change; a time where new skills have to be acquired and developed if we are to succeed in this pursuit.
I must admit to having moments where I feel a little overwhelmed with the complexity and enormity of adjusting to a brand new way of working … until I stumbled upon these three year ten students in their Music class (Rania Azhari, Indira Budiarta and Allea Anggoro) with Pak Eric.
Rania and Allea were working from campus, whilst Indira joined them from her home. Together, the group were working on writing music that explored
different cultural traditions. With the group working from different physical locations, the students were able to successfully explore practical ideas for a love ballad that fuses 21st century pop and traditional Balinese gamelan conventions. Furthermore, the students found a way to collaborate that was inclusive, regardless of the place of study.
This small encounter was an excellent reminder to me that our students are amazing. Whatever barriers to learning the pandemic puts in their way, they almost universally set to work on removing or minimizing the barrier as they forge their way towards success; determined in their exploration of possible solutions.
At this point, none of us can confidently express that we have all of the answers for what the next stage in blended learning will look like. However, if I’m confident in one thing, it is that if there is any community that can make this work, it is the GJS community. Go Hawks!
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