Wellbeing
Our goal at Howick Intermediate School is to ensure that all students succeed in a happy, safe, and stimulating environment. To achieve this, we focus on the health and well-being of students and staff. This is a priority for our school.
Whilst it begins with the vision, it is integrated within our strategic goal, our curriculum, our assessment and planning, and our pastoral care system. We are constantly looking for ways to simplify, streamline, and do things differently and better. The journey is complex because we are dealing with human behaviour and this is incredibly difficult to quantify - perception can be reality.
Well-being at Howick Intermediate School is guided by the principles of the Mana Model. It is the foundation of our approach which recognises that children will thrive and improve their ability to gain knowledge and skills for positive mental health, if the five key forms of mana are acknowledged, affirmed and developed.
The Mana Model (Webber and Macfarlane 2018, 2020) identifies five key forms of mana that help children thrive.
These five key forms of mana have intersected with four key areas of well-being to form Mitey's unique New Zealand approach to mental health education.
The five key forms are:
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Children need to believe they occupy a central and valued position in their whānau, including their school whānau, so they develop a sense of self and feel connected to others. Mana Whānau is critical and is the foundation for the development of the other four forms of mana.
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Children need to feel belonging and connection to the place where they live and learn and to the people in those places. By celebrating differences and knowing their knowledge and history are important and shared, children get the connection they need to thrive.
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Children need to believe they can be successful and that they can achieve at school by setting goals, being persistent, and taking responsibility. Supporting children involves providing positive role models they can aspire to together with setting high expectations and showing them how to succeed.
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Children need the skills to understand and deal with difference and adversity such as courage, resilience, self-discipline, humility and tenacity.
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Children have the skills, knowledge and confidence to navigate, with mental wellness, two or more worlds. They become open to learning different ways of doing things and making decisions using integrity, appreciating other people's values and needs.
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We are delighted to partner with Mitey over the next three years to grow and support the mental health and wellbeing of all our students.
The Sir John Kirwan Foundation has designed Mitey with NZ teachers and the University of Auckland to provide an evidence-based approach to teaching mental health education to primary and intermediate-aged children.
It is built around the New Zealand Curriculum and embedded into everyday learning, to ensure children are equipped with the age-appropriate skills and knowledge they need to recognise and respond to mental health issues in both themselves and others before they enter teenage years.
Mitey has successfully implemented its approach to schools in Auckland and we are excited to be included.
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A Mitey coach will work with staff to develop teaching and learning. This will also ensure Mitey is tailored to our school's unique culture and community.
Mental health education will be taught by our teachers in every classroom with the skills, knowledge and understanding of mental health woven into what is already being taught.
Parents and the whole school community are an integral part of Mitey's approach and as with all our learning, your engagement and support is a key aspect of educating our students.
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Mental health concerns and issues amongst NZ youth have doubled in the past 10 years and we all agree that unhappy students don't learn.
Youth suicide rates in NZ are among the highest in the world. Partnering with Mitey allows our school to be part of a transformational change for young people by enabling them to nurture their mental health - and that of others - for the rest of their lives.
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Pause Breathe Smile is a mind health programme designed to equip children aged five to 12 with tools to manage the ups and downs of life and set them up for a healthy future. Delivered in schools, by teachers, it is aligned with the New Zealand Curriculum and fully funded by Southern Cross.
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Howick Intermediate have introduced children to mindfulness through the Pause Breathe Smile programme. This is to support emotional and mental wellbeing development. Children quickly understand the usefulness of mindfulness and adapt the Pause Breathe Smile methods in their daily interactions.
The programme is being implemented in primary and intermediate schools nationwide and is supported by the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand. Research shows that it leads to significant increases in childhood wellbeing.
The programme is being implemented in primary and intermediate schools nationwide and is supported by the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand. Research shows that it leads to significant increases in childhood wellbeing.
Healthy minds are just as important as healthy bodies. Pause Breathe Smile helps kids learn important emotion regulation skills, develops self-awareness and kindness. It builds emotional literacy and resilience and helps our kids to develop a positive sense of connection to themselves, others and the natural world.
Evaluation of the programme shows improvements in calmness and reduced stress, attention, behaviour and compassion for self and others.
Wellbeing Services
At Howick Intermediate we care about your health and wellbeing. We want you to be the best person you can be. We face many challenges in life and we want you to be resilient members of society. The links below can help us be the best we can be and give us strategies that we all need to become the best version of ourselves.
It's okay to reach out for help - never hesitate if you are concerned about yourself or someone else.
Youthline
Youthline is a support service for any questions you may have. If you don’t want to call they also have many different advice pages on body, social, mind and beyond school issues.
Groov
Groov is an app that you can use to monitor, manage and improve your mental well-being by setting daily goals and tracking your progress. Groov
The Lowdown
The Lowdown is a free help line that gives you straight up answers for those up and down moments in life.
Small Steps
Small Steps are digital tools to help you maintain wellness, find relief, or get help for yourself, friends or whānau
Rainbow Youth
Call (09) 376 4155 (11 am-5 pm weekdays) or webchat (3-5 weekdays) for peer support for youth in the rainbow community, their friends, and whānau.
Headstrong
Headstrong (including Aroha Chatbot) is a uniquely New Zealand chatbot app designed for young people — it feels like talking with a trusted friend. Download it from the app store on your mobile device. for yourself, friends or whānau
