Wellbeing Wednesday – Celebrating Differences

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“Being different is the best thing ever” – Tom McLaughlin, Along Came A Different

Celebrating differences means recognising that everyone is unique and valuing what makes each person special.

In Along Came A Different, the characters learn that being different is not something to fear. Instead, different ideas, talents, appearances and experiences help communities grow stronger. When we welcome and include others, we create places where everyone feels they belong.

Learning to celebrate differences can improve our friendships, build empathy, strengthen our sense of belonging and support positive mental health.

Our Tips for Celebrating Differences

1. Be Curious About Others

Everyone has their own story, interests and experiences. This week, try:

  • Asking someone about a hobby they enjoy.
  • Finding out something new about a friend.
  • Learning about a tradition from another family or culture.

Being curious helps us understand and appreciate one another.

2. Look for What Makes People Special

Sometimes we notice what makes us different, but forget to celebrate it. Can you identify:

  • A talent someone has?
  • A strength you admire in a friend?
  • Something unique about yourself?

Every person has something valuable to contribute.

3. Include Someone

Helping others feel included shows kindness and respect. You could:

  • Invite someone to join a game.
  • Work with a different partner.
  • Sit with someone new at lunchtime.

Small acts of inclusion can make a big difference.

4. Celebrate Your Own Uniqueness

Think about what makes you, you. Perhaps you are:

  • Creative
  • Determined
  • Helpful
  • Funny
  • Thoughtful
  • Curious

Your differences are part of what makes you special.

5. Build a Colourful Community

Imagine our school if everyone was exactly the same. What would be missing?

Different ideas, talents, interests and personalities help our community grow, learn and thrive. Together, our differences make our school a brighter place. How does your uniqueness help our school community? Think about one thing that makes you different and how it helps others around you. When we celebrate differences, everyone feels valued, included and able to be themselves.

Book of the Week – Along Came A Different

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Reds love being red. Yellows love being yellow. And Blues love being blue. The problem is that they just don’t like each other. But one day, along comes a different colour who likes Reds, Yellows and Blues, and suddenly everything starts to change. Maybe being different doesn’t mean you can’t be friends …

A very special picture book that supports the adage that there is more that unites us than divides us. Along Came a Different just goes to show how much better we can all be when we come together to find common ground as friends.

Wellbeing Wednesday – Respect

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“How about we use our words to look after each other’s hearts?”– Kate Jane Neal, Words and Your Heart

Respect means showing care and consideration for yourself, other people, and the world around you. Respect can be shown through the words we use, the way we listen, and how we treat others.

In assembly on Monday, we read Words and Your Heart, where Kate Jane Neal reminds us that words have power. Kind words can help hearts grow stronger, whilst hurtful words can leave marks that are difficult to forget. When we choose our words carefully and treat others with kindness, we help create positive relationships and a happier community.

Learning to show respect can help us feel connected to others, build trust, and improve our mental wellbeing. It also helps everyone feel safe, valued, and included.

Our Tips for Respect

1. Think Before You Speak

Before you say something, ask yourself:

  • Is it kind?
  • Is it helpful?
  • Is it respectful?

Words can stay with people long after they are spoken.

2. Listen with Your Whole Body

Show respect by giving someone your attention when they are speaking. Try to:

  • Look at the speaker.
  • Wait for your turn to talk.
  • Listen to understand, not just to reply.

Everyone deserves to feel heard.

3. Fill Someone’s Heart with Kind Words

Think of someone important to you and share some kind words. You could say:

  • I appreciate how you…
  • Thank you for…
  • I admire the way you…
  • You helped me when…

Kind words can brighten someone’s day and strengthen friendships.

4. Respect Differences

People may look different, think differently, enjoy different things, or have different beliefs. Try:

  • Learning something new about another person.
  • Including someone in a game or activity.
  • Celebrating what makes each person unique.

Respect means valuing differences, not judging them.

5. Show Respect to Yourself

Respect isn’t just about other people. Think about:

  • Something you did well this week.
  • A challenge you worked hard to overcome.
  • A positive quality you have.

Remember, speaking kindly to yourself is just as important as speaking kindly to others.

What words would you like people to remember you for? Take a moment to think about the words you use every day. Are they helping hearts to grow? Respectful words, actions and choices help us build strong relationships and positive mental health.

Book of the Week – Words and Your Heart

/ / Library

The words that we hear affect the way we feel. It’s something we all know, but perhaps we don’t stop to think about it enough. For instance, words can conjure a whole world of wonderful description and paint a picture in someone else’s mind. When someone says something nice to us, it can make our hearts sing! But when people say mean things to us, it can also feel like our hearts are breaking. Words have great power – we can use them to make people feel stronger and happier – even laugh out loud and roll around!

Book of the Week – Kindness Grows

/ / Library

Angry words cause a crack to open up, but find out what happens when kindness begins to blossom in this thought-provoking book by award-winning author and illustrator Britta Teckentrup.

Book of the Week – Perfectly Norman

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Norman has always been normal, perfectly normal… So he is very surprised to have wings suddenly one day! He has the most fun ever trying them out high in the sky and flying with the birds, until he has to go indoors for dinner. What will his parents think? What will everyone else? Normal feels the safest plan to hide his magnificent wings is with a big duffel coat, but hiding the wings that make him different proves tricky and upsetting. Can Norman ever truly be himself?

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