Pupils from the Dubai based Cognita family of schools, The Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai, Horizon English School andRanches Primary School, joined more than 58,000 young people worldwide on Thursday 30 September to take part in Cognita’s third annual Global Be Well Day.
On this day each year, all Cognita schools collapse their curriculum to focus solely on well-being, which is fundamental to a Cognita Education. Created to educate Cognita’s global community schools about the importance of looking after their mental and physical well-being, this year’s Global Be Well Day focused on teaching pupils, parents and colleagues about empathy. Partnering with Empathy Week, a global school programme that operates in more than 40 countries, the schools used the power of film to empower pupils around the world to become empathetic and resilient leaders.
Sporting events with inspirational Team Angel Wolf added to the day’s exciting activities
As school communities continue to feel the effects of the global pandemic, there was a greater emphasis this year on the mental well-being contributors of ‘Connecting, Doing and Giving’, and many activities throughout the day focused on exploring these contributors through the lens of empathy.
Beth Kerr, Global Director of Wellbeing at Cognita, said: “Well-being is something that can be achieved by empowering students to prioritise the six key contributors to well-being in their lives. The power of connecting with ourselves, with others, and with our communities is fundamental to our health. By improving our empathy through practice and awareness, we can better understand someone else’s thoughts, feelings, emotions, and actions. As our world becomes more connected, navigating it becomes more complex. We believe that empathy underpins the other traits and skills we need to develop in order to face society’s biggest challenges.”
Throughout Global Be Well Day, the three schools engaged in a range of exciting activities that encourage pupil well-being, such as exercise, yoga, and mindful breathing and will teach pupils about the importance of a healthy and balanced diet.
“Well-being is something that can be achieved by empowering students to prioritise the six key contributors to well-being in their lives”
Pupils in Key Stage Two also took part in exciting activities with the Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai’s CSR partner, Team Angel Wolf, an inspirational non-profit foundation created to encourage people of determination and embrace healthy living through ‘Inclusive Impactivity’. Pupils were able to join an inspiring 30-minute talk with Team Angel Wolf, and pupils at RGSGD were given the opportunity to participate in a #RunwithRio or a #ClimbwithRio, so they could experience first-hand what it is like to experience life with added challenges. There was also a ‘calming corner’ where pupils from the schools sent messages of support to each other.
Activities that take place each year for Global Be Well Day focus solely on well-being and centre around the Cognita’s Be Well Charter, a curriculum that provides a definition of well-being and the six mental and physical contributors to it.