As we head towards the term 3 holidays, we know that the after effects of the pandemic are still with us. How we as a school community work to reconnect with each other is vital to positive wellbeing and relationships between our young people towards each other ,with their families and with the adults our school.
When the pandemic interrupted our lives and changed the way we live, this meant that suddenly many of our young people’s main sources of connection with peers and extended family members was removed overnight without warning and remained significantly disrupted over the next two years. Throughout our existence, humans have sought out relationships with others and built communities to belong to. We have a basic emotional and biological need for connection. Belonging is the feeling of security and support that gives us that sense of acceptance and connection to others.
When we don’t feel connected, or have our need for belonging met, this causes a deep seated distress. Both loneliness and disconnection are negative emotional states that can feel painful and sometimes unbearable. When our basic need for belonging isn’t met, it is impossible for our brain to focus on other things, such as learning. For young people, teenagers in particular, this desire is abundantly strong. Teenagers place a high value on their social ties, acceptance, care and support from others, especially their peers. The following article and video have key advice and links to strategies to help us all progress to positive post pandemic lives.
https://woodvillehigh.sa.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-building-belonging-post-pandemic
