Amber flag awarded to Crossmahon school

A BANDON primary school that embraced and promoted positive mental health were rewarded for their efforts when an Amber flag was raised at their school grounds.

Scoil Bhríde in Crossmahon were in celebratory mood earlier this month when Junior Health Minister Jim Daly visited the school to raise the Amber Flag – an initiative spearheaded by Pieta House that recognises the individuals efforts of primary and secondary schools to create healthy, inclusive environment that support mental well-being.

‘We were very active in promoting healthy minds and bodies with activities like yoga, mindfulness and building resilience,’ said Helen Hourihane, principal of Scoil Bhríde.

‘Pupils have gained the knowledge, attitudes and skills required to enable them to promote their own mental well-being and that of others. We also extended this initiative into the entire school community by encouraging the children to participate in mindful homework activities.’

Deputy Daly said that schools like Scoil Bhríde, when working on the Amber Flag Initiative, are changing the perception of looking after your mind, which will greatly help pupils in their adult lives. He also reminded the pupils to look after one another and about the importance of looking after their mental health.

The Amber Flag committee, made up of Alice Lillis, Kevin O’Connell, Gavin O’Shea, Molly O’Donovan, Eoin Crowley, Róisín Shannon, Lisa O’Mahony and Caoimhe O’Regan, were also thanked by Deputy Daly who said they are the future.

It was the second flag raising in recent weeks at the school as following their participation in the Cork County Council ‘Safety Awareness Programme’ they were awarded the Cork County Council Safety Awareness Flag. Through this Peer Learning Safety initiative, pupils learn how to make safer informer decisions while around water, on the road or on the farm.

Angela Veldman O’Donovan, education officer with Courtmacsherry Lifeboat Station, along with her husband, Henk, visited the school to raise the Safety Flag.