Staff Reflections
Staff Reflections
We all know how stressful school life can be, and how important it is to take care of our mental health and well-being, but how often do we pause to be still in our busy schedules?
The idea of these reflections is to encourage you to take a few minutes to consciously stop and reflect. We hope that they will help you to centre yourself and maybe to see things in a new light. There is plenty of research that shows the very real and sometimes unexpected benefits of intentionally attending to our own well-being.
How you do this will look different for each of you. You might choose to sit quietly with a cup of tea, or go for a walk, or simply find a space to be alone with your thoughts – there is no one-size fits all. Before we can support and encourage others, we need to nourish ourselves first, and we hope that these simple, weekly reflections will be a helpful starting point.
“The little things? The little moments? They aren’t little.”
2023/2024 Reflections
Dragons
Dragons appear in the mythology of most cultures...... Click to find out more Staff reflection about dragons
Blossom
Stone fruit trees such as apples and plums have showy, sweet-smelling blossom..... Click to find out more Staff reflection about blossom
Eggs
The tradition of painting eggs developed in countries such as Romania, Poland and Ukraine..... Click to find out more Staff reflection about eggs
Spring
Spring has been described as the season of hope..... Click to find out more Staff reflection about the season of spring
Wellies
Have you noticed how you approach a walk differently if you’re wearing wellies? Click to find out more Staff reflection about wellie
Treasure
Discovering buried treasure is a popular theme in children’s adventure stories...... Click to find out more Staff reflection about treasure
Kindness
February Half Term was also ‘Random Acts of Kindness Week,’... Click to find out more Staff reflection about kindness
Imperfect
Modern society has an unhealthy obsession with perfection...... Click to find out more Staff reflection about imperfection
Potter
A potter can look at a shapeless lump of clay and picture the finished work of art they’re going to create........ Click to find out more Staff reflection about being a potter
Be Kind
“‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ ‘Kind,’ said the boy.” Charlie Mackesy Click to find out more Staff reflection about kindness
Mondrian
Piet Mondrian was a trailblazer (or gamechanger!) in the art world........ Click to find out more Staff reflection - Mondrian
Blue
There is no scientific proof for blue Monday..... Click to find out more Staff reflection - blue
Monopoly
Monopoly has been voted the UK's most popular board game..... Click to find out more Staff reflection - Monopoly
Unplug
'Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you. ’ Anne Lamott Click to find out more Staff reflection - unplug
Holly
Holly trees were historically planted in deer parks as the leaves were a good source of nourishment...... Click to find out more Staff reflection about holly
Sticking plaster
Earle Dickson invented the first adhesive bandages in 1845...... Click to find out more Staff reflection - sticking plaster
Juggling
Being able to juggle takes practice..... Click to find out more Staff reflection - juggling
Opportunity
How do we make the most of each day’s opportunities Click to Find out more Staff Reflection - Opportunity
Bridge
In a world where the news is so often shocking and upsetting, it’s useful to think about building bridges, not barriers..... Click to find out more Staff Reflection - Bridges
Bulbs
Planting is a great way to spend an Autumn weekend in the garden...... Click to find out more Staff reflection - bulbs
Starting Block
Starting blocks give a sprinter something to push against...... Click to find out more Staff reflection - Starting blocks
Acorns
A single oak tree can support an entire eco-system..... Click to find out more Staff reflection - Acorns
Balloons
There are times in life when people must know when to not let go..... Click to find out more Staff reflection - balloons
Geese
When geese fly in a V formation they can fly up to 70% faster..... Click to find out more Staff reflection - geese
Laughter
'The most wasted of days is one without laughter...' Click to find out more Staff reflection - laughter
Playmobil
Since the 1970s, over three billion figures have been sold.... Click to find out more Staff reflection - Playmobil
Road
What does the road ahead feel like at the moment? Click to find out more Staff reflection - road2022/2023 Reflections
Book
‘Today is where your book begins, the rest is still unwritten.’ Click to find out more Staff Reflection Book
Staff Reflections Ubuntu
The African philosophy of Ubuntu tells us that we’re only fully human when we live our lives connected to other people... Click to out more Staff Reflection Ubuntu
Staff Reflections Pebbles
Are you someone who fills your pockets with pebbles when you walk along the beach? Click to find out more Staff Reflection Pebbles
Staff Reflection Sunflowers
Sunflowers originally came from the Americas and were grown for food, medicine and dyes... Click to find out more Staff Reflection Sunflowers
Staff Reflection Lollies
Mesopotamian nobles built ice houses along the Euphrates River at least 4000 years ago so they could have iced drinks and desserts on hand... Click to find out more Staff Reflection Lollies
Boat
You can row in a purposeful, focussed way, or simply drift along and enjoy the scenery... Click to find out more Staff Reflection Boat
Beads
As we reach the end of the school year, it’s good to take time to look back and reflect. Click to find out more Staff Reflection Beads
Herbs
Lots of claims are made for the healing properties of herbs........ Click to find out more Staff reflection about herbs
Bluebells
A sign that Spring has definitely arrived, half the world’s bluebells are found in the UK..... Click to fnd out more Staff reflection - bluebells
Lens
Lenses bend light, to make objects appear bigger or smaller than they really are..... Click to find out more Staff reflection - lens
Books
Today is where your book begins, the rest is still unwritten..... Click to find out more Staff reflection - books
Stained Glass
Imagine sunlight streaming through a stained glass window..... Click to find out more Staff reflection - stained glass
Mountains
What mountains are you facing at the moment? Click to find out more Staff reflection - mountains
Elastic bands
When an elastic band is relaxed, it can be stretched further..... Click to find out more Staff reflection - elastic bands
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is widely used in traditional medicine.... Click to find out more Staff reflection - aloe vera
Chocolate
The Aztecs used cocoa beans as money....... Click to find out more Staff reflection - chocolate
Fish
When life gets you down, just keep swimming...... Click to find out more Staff reflection - fish
Daffodils
For many people, daffodils represent hope..... Click to find out more Staff reflection - daffodils
Building Blocks
Have you watched a small child building with blocks? Click to find out more Staff reflection - building blocks
Data
Are you a data person? Do figures and statistics excite you or leave you cold? Click to find out more Staff reflection - data
Hands
Spend a few minutes looking at your hands. Are they well-groomed or a bit uncared for? Click to find out more Staff reflection - hands
Logs
The rings in a tree trunk show the tree’s age..... Click to find out more Staff reflection - logs
Steps
Do you like to get things done and tick them off your list, or are you a bit of a procrastinator? Click here to find out more Staff reflection - steps
Bauble
Baubles are an echo of Roman times when people hung fruit on trees during festivals....... Click to find out more Staff reflection - bauble
Smoke alarm
At their best, smoke alarms save lives. When they’re too sensitive....... Click to find out more Staff reflection - smoke alarm
Jelly Babies
The inventor of jelly babies was originally trying to make jelly bears, but they ended up looking more like babies....... Click to find out more Staff reflection - jelly babies
Jigsaws
It’s thought that jigsaws became so popular during lockdown because they gave people a sense of control and achievement, when everything else seemed so chaotic...... Click to find out more Staff reflection - jigsaws
Ubuntu
Ubuntu is the South African philosophy, that says ‘I am because you are.’ Click to find out more. Staff reflection - Ubuntu
Apples
Apples originated in Kazakhstan and were originally very bitter....... Download Download a reflection about apples - Link opens in a new window
Conkers
Think about the spiky chestnut case, is there anything spiky or difficult in your life that needs sorting out? Download Download a reflection about conkers
Leaves
Take time this week to appreciate the Autumn leaves...... Download Download a reflection about leaves
Bread
Bread is a staple part of the diet in most cultures, whether it’s an artisan sourdough, or a convenient sliced white loaf. Some see it as a symbol of life itself..... Download Download a reflection about bread
Dice
Do you feel in control of your future, or does it all depend on the roll of the dice? Download Download a reflection about dice - Link opens in a new window
Guitars
When the strings on an acoustic guitar vibrate, the guitar finds its voice and sings...... Download resources Staff Reflection - Guitars2021/2022 Reflections
