Pupils say ‘Dinnae haud ye Wheest’
a mental health improvement project has kicked off at a primary school.
Primary 5/6 pupils at muirkirk Primary launched the project, in collaboration with charity and social enterprise group Columba 1400.
It’s called‘Dinnae haud yer Wheest’ and encourages children from the school and members of the community to recognise their feelings and take action to improve their mental wellbeing.
Their aim is make their village a happy place where people talk openly about their feelings.
The school app is being updated daily with a different theme each day.
monday is‘magic monday’and the young people prepared compliments to make people feel good. Tuesday is‘Try it Tuesday’and the young people prepared mental health activities. Wednesday is ‘Wonderful Wednesday’and the young people encourage everyone to get involved.
Thursday is‘Thinking Thursday’ when the young people will share fun riddles keeping everyone on their toes. and Friday is‘Funny Friday’, when the young people keep everyone entertained with jokes!
The pupils have also created a display in the community window within the village and are planning to update the information each week, eventually involving the whole school.
anne mcLean, the school’s headteacher, said:“I am so proud of P5/6 and their Dinnae haud yer Wheest project, which has been created in collaboration with Columba 1400. We have been working with Columba 1400 on improving the leadership skills of our children and young people. This project began at the beginning of the school year and is the culmination of a great deal of work.
“after almost two years of the pandemic, our children and young people felt that it was important that people addressed their feelings and worked to improve their mental health.
“P5/6 and whole school community want to see positive change, they want their peers, their parents and carers, grannies and grampas and everyone in the community to get involved. To share a compliment, a wee joke and most importantly Dinnae hold yer Wheest!
“on monday the children had prepared compliments to share. They wrote‘Everything seems brighter when you are around.’that is so true of P5/6 and all the children and young people from our school. The future seems bright when they are around.”
P5/6 have created a video to help explain their exciting new project. access the video at https://www. youtube.com/ watch?v=Sv-ZVjQpnWa