Student Wellbeing – Happiness and Sleep and Academic Achievement
Sleep benefits the brain and promotes attention, memory, and analytical thought. It makes thinking sharper, recognizing the most important information to consolidate learning. A 2015 global study for Fisher-Price found a shift in mothers’ aspirations for their children: today’s parents, first and foremost, want their children to be happy. When parents are asked about what determines their satisfaction with their children’s school, the priority item on their list is their children’s wellbeing, that is, whether their children are happy and safe.
The Fisher-Price survey showed parents value the growth of their children’s emotional intelligence, including their capacity for resilience and the ability to communicate and collaborate. Somerville House is committed to our focus on student wellbeing, via the intention to strengthen our research-based approach through positive education. We also aim to provide academic and social support to ensure that each student develops personal resilience.
Linked with this idea of student wellbeing and happiness, it is timely to reflect at this point in the school year. As assessment periods intensify, parents may notice that their daughter’s energy and enthusiasm might wane. It is at times such as these that nerves tend to become frayed and tensions may run high. It is extremely important that students (and adults) ensure that they sleep well and eat well. It is timely to remind ourselves that the optimum sleep required by children and adolescents alike is 9.25 hours every night. Of course, this is not an easy call with the pressures of school work and high levels of participation in numerous sports, music or other co-curricular activities. Time management becomes essential as sleep cannot be ‘caught up’ over the weekend.
While a person sleeps their brain is preparing for the next day: it forms new pathways to help one learn and consolidate information into the long-term memory. A good night’s sleep thus improves learning. It also helps one pay attention, make decisions and be creative.
According to the United States National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, “Children and teens who are sleep deficient may have problems getting along with others. They may feel angry and impulsive, have mood swings, feel sad or depressed, or lack motivation. They also may have problems paying attention, and they may get lower grades and feel stressed".
We all know that lack of sleep can affect us physically by increasing the risk of heart disease, kidney disease and high blood pressure. It has also been associated with obesity in teens.
The Institute maintains that: Sleep also supports healthy growth and development. Deep sleep triggers the body to release the hormone that promotes normal growth in children and teens. This hormone also boosts muscle mass and helps repair cells and tissues in children, teens, and adults. Sleep also plays a role in puberty and fertility.
Your immune system relies on sleep to stay healthy. This system defends your body against foreign or harmful substances. Ongoing sleep deficiency can change the way in which your immune system responds. For example, if you’re sleep deficient, you may have trouble fighting common infections. As students start gearing up for this phase of the school term and pending assessments, they should ensure that they take good care of themselves both emotionally and physically. At this time of the term some students develop colds and sore throats and, whilst this is inevitable in a school environment, it is important that our girls build up their immunity through healthy sleep, exercise and eating regimes.
As a recommendation, if you are not enjoying good quality sleep, investigate the CALM app at calm.com, as it will help you to get more restful sleep and wake up feeling refreshed. From personal experience, I can assure you that you will experience better sleep, lower stress, and less anxiety.
Child Protection Policy
This policy applies to all staff, students, children, volunteers, visitors and contractors at all PMSA schools and early learning centres, and to homestay service providers, homestay hosts, residents of, and visitors to homestay host residences and homestay students. It covers information about the reporting of harm, physical or sexual abuse and inappropriate behaviour. It contains information to guide responses to self-harm. The purpose of the PMSA Child Protection Policy is to provide written processes about the care and protection of children, including processes for appropriate conduct, for reporting abuse or suspected abuse and processes for handling disclosures of harm.
Mrs Kim Kiepe
Principal