• PARENT PORTAL
  • Home
  • Our school
      • Our School
      • MISSION, ETHOS & CATHOLIC LIFE
      • Our Legacy
      • Meet the Staff
      • MEET THE GOVERNORS
      • INSPECTION REPORTS
      • Term Dates
      • Wrap Around Care
    • What’s happening now at St Joseph’s

      Stay up to date with the latest news with our digital newsletter.

      read more

  • Academic
      • Curriculum
      • The Acorn Centre
      • Reception
      • Years 1 – 6
      • Years 7 – 11
      • Sixth Form
      • Head’s Scholarship Challenge
      • Results & Achievements
  • Pastoral Care
      • Pastoral Care
      • Learning Support
      • CAREERS & FUTURES ADVICE
      • Student Voice
  • Enrichment & Extension
      • Co-Curricular
        •  – the Arts
        • – Sport & Outdoor Education
        • – STEM
        • – HaLE
      • Duke of Edinburgh Award
      • Houses
      • Trips & Expeditions
      • Student Extension Programme (STEP)
  • For our community
      • Alumni
      • Holiday Club
      • Swim School
      • Charities & Partnerships
      • Policies
      • Venue Hire
  • Admissions
      • Admissions Process
      • Arrange a Visit
      • Interview & Entrance Assessment 2026
      • Open Events
      • Stay & Play
      • Fees & Fee Assistance
      • Transport & Uniform
  • Parents
  • News
      • School News
      • Digital Newsletter
      • Blogs
  • Contact us
  • Search

Express Yourself: Children’s Mental Health Week

05.02.2021

With schools partially closed and lots of uncertainty, mental health has never been more important. This week we took part in Place 2 Be’s ‘Express Yourself’ campaign for Children’s Mental Health Week. We encouraged staff and pupils to explore the different ways we can express ourselves, and the creative ways that we can share our feelings, our thoughts and our ideas.

Pupils engaged in discussion through tutor time, assemblies and PSHEE and everyone was buzzing about what they were planning in their afternoon off to express themselves.

Year 11 and the Art Scholars received a virtual visit from Xavier Pick, former official UK War Artist and international artist best known for his journalistic sketches and paintings. Find out more here.

On Thursday afternoon, staff and pupils ‘dressed to express’ and took time out of their timetable to express themselves through a creative activity of their choice. We have loved seeing what our community have been getting up to. Here are just a few examples.

Rishik (Year 1) 'dressed to express' in his favourite Spider Man outfit and spent time exploring his creative side through Art.

Mrs Bray spent her afternoon baking these delicious smartie and chocolate button cookies, while wearing her favourite Cath Kidston apron.

Charlie (Year 10) – no matter what the weather, Charlie spends his spare time on the water, and his creative afternoon was no different, spending time doing something he loves.

Nishika in Early Years spent time walking around her local area with her family and taking in these breathtaking views.

Ava-Grace (Year 2) spent the afternoon baking a very yummy Victoria sponge cake, whilst wearing her colourful outfit.

Leoni (Year 9) spent her afternoon baking and made a mouth-watering Victoria sponge cake and chocolate chip biscuits.

Adelle (Year 13) played with her sausage dog, Joey, and took him for a walk in the garden. She said “Fresh air is so refreshing and nice in the morning and really sets me up for a good day.

Lara (Year 5) made this stunning cake during her creative afternoon off timetable.

Using the theme triangles, Maya (Year 6) made this wonderful fantasy forest scene with some pipe cleaner art that Year 6 had been doing independently.

In school, the children of critical workers dressed to express and spent the afternoon getting creative with various activities. Early Years and Reception enjoyed an Arts and Crafts Buffet where children chose between Pasta Fish Art (Darrell Wakelam), mindfulness colouring to relaxing music and tissue-paper-balls flower art. They also enjoyed child initiated play with natural loose parts like fir cones, conkers, shells, stones, corks, wooden objects, curtain rings and had fun with the light table, glass nuggets and sensory balls. They danced to their favourite songs and played games outside. Others in the Prep School got creative with Junk using Darrell Wakelam for inspiration and creating art from toilet rolls and egg boxes ( our community at home enjoyed doing this too!). Pupils in Years 3-6 designed a Marble Run Challenge, everyone helped with designing their own part of the challenge and it is still in full flow!

back to news
Next post
  • 09.05.2025

    Year 13 Study Leave Begins – A Fond Farewell

    Read more

  • 08.05.2025

    Carson’s Journey to Gold

    Read more

  • 29.04.2025

    Dr Delphine Pellenc

    Read more

St Joseph’s College, Upper Redlands Road, Reading, RG1 5JT, UK

Charity No. 277077 | Limited Company No. 1400984
Registered in England and Wales
VAT registration number: 479496027

Main office telephone:
0118 966 1000

Prep School telephone:
0118 984 6910

For admissions enquiries contact:
admissions@sjcr.org.uk

For all other enquiries contact:
mailbox@sjcr.org.uk

Useful links

  • Parent portal
  • Prospectus
  • Arrange a visit
  • Virtual tour – Prep
  • Virtual tour – Senior
  • Job Vacancies
  • ©2024 St. Joseph’s College
  • |
  • Website terms and privacy policy
Web design by Colab Agency