The festivities kicked off on Monday 29 January with Opposites Day, where pupils and staff alike were able to choose ‘opposites’ to normal school rules, like wearing colourful socks and bringing a soft toy in, while raising funds for St Joseph’s African Aid. Donations have topped £4,500 and will contribute to the construction of a much-needed toilet block in St Joseph’s school in Koza, something that will significantly improve the lives of pupils and teachers there.

Throughout the fortnight, pupils explored the My Voice Matters theme with enthusiasm, aided by daily presentations from Group Tutors, which ranged from encouraging the pupils to donate unwanted clothes and toys to charity, to helping a friend who is stuck with their classwork. While pupils were encouraged to use their voices, they were also taught to listen to what others around them had to say.

During the first week, a new group of PSHE ambassadors, affectionately known as GOALies (which stands for Go Out And Listen) were voted in by their peers. The new GOALies took part in training provided by Eikon, a local charity specialising in wellbeing and mental health support. Equipped with valuable skills and knowledge, the GOALies are poised to serve as advocates for the wellbeing of their peers and take their roles very seriously, with weekly meetings to feedback the information they have gathered from other pupils on how to improve their school and daily lives.

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Meanwhile, pupils across all year groups took part in crafting building bricks for the ‘Be the I in Kind’ display, symbolising their commitment to fostering kindness and compassion within the school community.

Wellbeing Wednesday in the second week provided a huge range of activities aimed at nurturing the mental and emotional health of pupils. Under the guidance of Heads of Year, various mindfulness activities were organised, including colouring sessions, LEGO building, Forest School adventures, and leisurely walks. Additionally, pupils had the opportunity to relax in the school's Wellbeing Hut and engage in den-building activities.

The highlight of the week was undoubtedly the fantastic annual Colour Run, which also took place on Wellbeing Wednesday. Starting with our youngest children in Nursery and Reception in the morning and ending with our Year 6 children together with the Year 3 buddies, the pupils enjoyed a fun obstacle course laid out on the Orchard Field complete with haystacks and hurdles to run through all while having paint powder thrown at them by the staff. The children were well equipped to face their colourful dowsing, with many choosing to wear clean white clothes to show off the bright splatters of paint powder as they raced around the course.

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The Kindness Counts fortnight underscored the importance of nurturing children's voices and rights as well as highlighting the school's commitment to promoting holistic wellbeing among its pupils. Through a combination of education, empowerment, and community engagement - with a sprinkling of fun and joy - the school continues to pave the way for a brighter, more inclusive future.